Covid biology
The thing enclosing the virus
Envelope, membrane made of proteins and lipids The membrane fuses to the cell's membrane to release the virus's RNA genome, helps it camouflage.
COVID-19
Name for specific disease caused by SARS-CoV-2
What does RT-PCR detect?
Pieces of the virus's RNA genome
Once the mRNA has entered a person's cells, it is translated into spike proteins
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The SARS-CoV-2 virus has an RNA genome made of 30,000nucleotides. List the four different types of nucleotides found int he SARS-CoV-2 genome.
Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine, Uracil
Antigen vs antibody
Antigen is the actual spike protein on the virus that your body attacks. It is part of the virus that triggers an immune response. An antibody is the memory of you body. It is in immune systems and B cells make proteins that fight the virus.
How could you track how the virus has changed over time?
Compare and contrast the various genomes and mutations with the original genome. You could test peoples genome sequences from all over the world to see if there is a difference or pattern in them
How does the DNA vaccine trigger an immune response?
DNA gets transcribed into mRNA. MRNA is then translated into antigen proteins which trigger an immune response.
Once the mRNA has entered a person's cells, it is integrated into the cells' DNA
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Coronavirus
Family of viruses that includes SARS-CoV-2
How does the inactive whole virus vaccine trigger an immune response?
Injects an inactive or weakened version of the virus. They contain antigens that trigger an immune response.
When SARS-CoV-2 replicates, mistakes can be made in some copies of its genome, giving rise to mutations. Could these mutations make the virus more deadly to humans?
It depends, a mutations can make the virus more deadly, easier for the virus to enter a cell and it could have a selective advantage, making it more relevant in the population over time. But it can also make the virus less deadly because it could mutate to replicate less efficiently. It could also mutate to affect cells in body parts that an recover more successfully.
How does the mRNA vaccine trigger an immune response?
It encodes the spike protein, the mRNA in the vaccine is translated into antigen proteins which triggers an immune response.
How does the antigen proteins vaccine trigger an immune response?
It triggers an immune response without causing disease. If exposed to the virus later they help to fight it. With SARS-CoV-2 it delivers the spike protein.
What does the antigen test detect?
Pieces of viral proteins (antigens)
Wiry coil inside virus
RNA genome, A single strand of RNA The RNA genome carries the virus's genetic info, including genes for proteins that the virus needs to make more copies of itself. Tells the ribosome what proteins to make.
Chunks coming off of the virus
Spike protein corona, crown of protein spikes called corona. Attach to specific proteins on the surface on a cell. Allow it into the cell, release its RNA genome, and use the cell's machinery to make more copies.
SARS-CoV-2
Stands for Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The virus that causes the illness we call COVID-19.
Once the mRNA has entered a person's cells, it helps trigger the production of B cells
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Once the mRNA has entered a person's cells, it is eventually eliminated from the body.
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Predict how the increased chance of SARS-CoV-2 binding to receptors than the other coronavirus was has affected SARS-CoV-2 ability to replicate
The increased chance of being has affected SARA-CoV-2's ability to replicate because there is a greater chance of replication. Wen it binds it replicates so when there's a greater chance of replication there is more binding.
Steps of replication of SARS-CoV-2
The virus binds to a receptor on a human cell's membrane The virus releases its RNA genome into the cell The virus's RNA is translated into proteins by the cell's ribosomes Viral RNA polymerase helps transcribe more copies of the virus's RNA New viruses travel tot he cell membrane of the infected cell and are released outside the cell.
Explain how someone could test negative for an active SARS-CoV-2 infection and positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies?
They could have already had the infection before and now it is out of their body. The residual antibodies are still present which is good because it would help you recover faster if you got the virus again.
Why might people need another vaccine if the virus mutates?
Vaccines help the body produce B cells and antibodies that target specific antigens on the virus. If the virus's antigens change due to mutations, these B cells and antibodies may no longer be able to target the virus. You may need a new vaccine, one with antigens form the mutated virus, to produce new B cells and antibodies that target the mutated virus.
As shown in the animation, SARS-CoV-2 uses the ribosomes inside human cells to translate its RNA into viral proteins. According to the animation, what is one of the viral proteins made by the ribosomes, and how does that protein help SARS-CoV-2 make more copies of itself?
Viral RNA Polymerase (ase means its a enzyme) (makes polymers of viral RNA) acts as an enzyme which is a catalyst for a reaction and speeds up the process.