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Introduction
COVID-19 has been widely researched throughout and in the final stages of the first pandemic cases. The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences of St. John’s University conducted a meta-analysis of the virus’ investigated characteristics and vaccine efficiency. Moreover, the viral structure was studied, along with the main mechanisms of infection (Chilamakuri & Agarwal, 2021). The article also focused on the pandemic’s clinical aspect, treatment methods, and pharmaceutical interventions. The viral infection was initially reported in 2019, which explains the origin of the globally accepted acronym COVID-19. While it is not the first pandemic of the century, its detrimental impact is evident through the rising numbers of infected people since 2019. Therefore, the main points of the epidemiology, morphology, infection process and other critical characteristics of COVID-19 must be discussed.
Epidemiology
Although the infection originated in one particular region of a Chinese city, it began spreading rapidly to other parts of the world. The studied cases helped outline its main transmission methods, including the contact of the nasal, oral, and eye mucosal secretions (Chilamakuri & Agarwal, 2021). One point to emphasize is the probability of getting infected despite racial, gender, or age-related characteristics. Moreover, the viral droplets excreted by an infected individual may stay contagious on a surface for several days, which explains the importance of sanitization and sterilization of personal items.
Morphology (Structure)
The protective structure of the virus allows it to reproduce and be transmitted despite certain sanitary measures. The family of organisms COVID-19 belongs to possesses one of the largest single-strand RNA genomes, being able to present various proteins on their surface (Chilamakuri & Agarwal, 2021). Some of the major proteins of the virus are responsible for biological maintenance and reproduction, ensuring its ability to invade host organisms. Other external structures on their membrane include glycoproteins, which contain binding sites for a future invasion of human cells (Chilamakuri & Agarwal, 2021). Therefore, the morphological presentation of COVID-19 is evidently connected to its functions and transmission process.
Infection Process
The transmission process itself is a biological process that occurs on a molecular level. The described morphological features allow the virus to enter the host cell directly and initiate RNA synthesis (Chilamakuri & Agarwal, 2021). In the stage of invading the host, the foreign body becomes dependent on the host’s metabolic processes. Moreover, the infection includes recognition of specific human cell receptors and proteins. As the following receptors are located in vital human organs such as the lungs and the heart, the symptoms of COVID-19 are commonly related to their dysfunctions.
Medical Complications
Medical complications have become a popular topic for discussion due to their range and alternative forms for different patients. Generally, those infected with COVID-19 can experience severe complications of tastelessness, diarrhea, cough, liver and kidney failure, as well as cardiovascular diseases (Chilamakuri & Agarwal, 2021). Depending on their existing health state, any age category may be affected by such symptoms. Recent medical reports have outlined milder side effects, including headaches, muscle aches, runny nose, and fatigue (Chilamakuri & Agarwal, 2021). If symptoms do appear, patients only start experiencing them after two weeks.
Conclusion
In that way, the chosen article provided a comprehensive review of COVID-19 and its complications. An explanation of its epidemiology is a critical point of the discussion as it provides instances to avoid contamination and further transmission of viral particles. Moreover, the structural analysis of the agent illustrated the specific functions of the main morphological elements in protecting, reproducing, and invading other organisms. The actual process of invasion is an essential step that biologists must consider in vaccine production. While patients with pre-existing medical conditions can experience more severe symptoms, the authors highlight the possibility of getting infected for any age group. Furthermore, the review of the COVID-19 symptoms helped to demonstrate the various forms its complications can take. Overall, the information presented in the article can be used for educational purposes in emphasizing the importance of safety protocols.
Reference
Chilamakuri, R., & Agarwal, S. (2021). COVID-19: Characteristics and therapeutics. Cells, 10(2), 206. Web.
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