BIOL212 W6-2

Wuhan, China, late December 2019, possibly linked to a seafood market.

Official name of the COVID-19 virus.

WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020.

City in China where the COVID-19 outbreak began, initially sealed off.

Lung inflammation feature of the disease.

Determining the genetic code of SARS-CoV-2 by molecular diagnostic companies in Wuhan.

The type of genetic material of SARS-CoV-2.

SARS-CoV-2's genetic similarity to bat SARS-like coronaviruses.

Confirmed January 22, 2020, by Chinese health experts.

Single-stranded RNA virus w/ multiple open reading frames.

SARS-CoV-2 shares a high degree of similarity (96%) with a bat coronavirus (RaTG13).

SARS-CoV-2 shows similarity (85.5% to 92.4%) in its genetic sequence with coronaviruses from Malayan pangolins.

The spike protein (S protein) of SARS-CoV-2 has a very high (97.4%) sequence similarity to the Guangdong pangolin coronavirus's RBD.

SARS-CoV-2 has a unique 'polybasic sequence' (PRRA) in its receptor-binding domain, which is a furin cleavage motif.

Furin protease can split proteins at the sequence pattern Arg-X-X-Arg (arginine-X-X-arginine), facilitating viral entry.

The theory that SARS-CoV-2 may have infected an intermediate animal host before spreading to humans.

The most likely origin of SARS-CoV-2 is a bat coronavirus (RaTG13).

A species of horseshoe bat from Yunnan province, China,

The percentage of matching genetic code between two viruses or genomes.

The process where genetic material is exchanged between different viruses, possibly leading to new viruses like SARS-CoV-2.

A system for classifying viruses based on their genome type and how they produce mRNA.

A glycoprotein on the surface of coronaviruses that binds to the host cell's ACE2 receptor, allowing the virus to enter.

A protein on the surface of human cells that SARS-CoV-2 binds to for entry.

A protease enzyme that helps the virus enter the cell by cleaving the spike protein.

An enzyme that uses RNA as a template to make more RNA, a crucial process for viral replication.

The average number of people an infected person will spread the disease to. It indicates the rate of transmission.

The process by which a virus makes more of itself inside a host cell.

Common symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, and loss of smell and taste.

A person who has the virus but shows no symptoms, yet can still transmit the disease.

The disease can range from mild to severe, with some individuals developing serious respiratory complications.

COVID-19 spreads through direct contact with contaminated surfaces, aerosols from breathing, coughing, and sneezing, and cold surfaces or cold chain transportation where the virus can survive for extended periods.

A disease that originates in animals and can be transmitted to humans.

SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, can infect various animals, including cats, dogs, ferrets, and minks. However, it's not known to infect pigs, chickens, mice, or rats. Evidence suggests pet owners can pass the virus to their pets, but not vice versa.

Vaccine development involves various stages, including safety and efficacy testing. Phase III clinical trials are crucial for assessing a vaccine's effectiveness and safety in large groups of people.

Key parameters evaluated for vaccine candidates include safety, efficacy, cost, availability, and public acceptance.

The effectiveness of a vaccine in preventing disease. The US FDA requires at least 50% efficacy for vaccine approval.

Medical treatment that provides supplemental oxygen to patients with respiratory problems.

A machine that helps patients breathe by delivering air or oxygen to their lungs.

A life-support technology that provides oxygen and removes carbon dioxide from the blood outside the body.

Temporary medical facilities established to cope with emergencies like a pandemic, providing additional hospital beds to manage a high influx of patients.