For this case study, you will see two documents. Download both documents- Pandemic Pandemonium, in .pdf and .docx formats. Pandemic pandemonium- treatment .pdf document: This will explain the case. Yo

Pandemic Pandemonium

Why Can’t We Just Treat COVID-19?

By Melissa S. Kosinski-Collins, Lindsay Mehrmanesh, Jessie Cuomo, and Kene N. Piasta

Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA

• Read through the .pdf file

• Answer questions for each part

• Use Red color for answers

• Include all citations in the last section “Citations”

• Letter-single spaced, all points addressed, font Arial, size 10 or 11, not to exceed one page

(Read Part I of the case and answer questions 1-4, include citations for answers)

1. What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

2. What are the mechanisms of transmission of SARS-CoV-2?

3. What is a quarantine? How long does a quarantine usually last? On what factors does the length of a quarantine depend? Why are Megan and Kat’s family in a 14-day quarantine?

4. Based on the information above, do you think Megan and Kat are at risk of developing COVID-19? Why or why not?

(Read Part II of the case and answer questions 5-10, include citations for answers)

1. What are the structural and functional differences between DNA and RNA?

2. List one human-infecting virus that has a DNA-based genome.

3. What is a glycoprotein? Where are they found in human cells? List some of their functions.

4. Hypothesize as to why coronaviruses may have glycoproteins in their membranes. What may be the purpose and function of these structures?

5. Describe the structure of a phospholipid and a phospholipid bilayer. Indicate the polar and nonpolar parts of the structure for each.

6. Describe how soap could chemically destroy a coronavirus virion.

(Read Part III of the case and answer questions 11-15, include citations for answers)

1. Describe the steps of lytic infection typical to a DNA virus like herpes simplex virus.

2. How are the steps of SARS-CoV-2 infection different from lytic infection of a DNA virus? How are they similar?

3. How might an RNA-based genome result in an increased infection rate? What are some potential complications to this infection strategy?

4. What is the central dogma of biology? How does coronavirus defy traditional models of central dogma?

5. Fill in the table below comparing four different viruses. Use resources found at either/both of the following websites to guide you in the process:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC

• National Center for Biotechnology Information. NIH

Table 1. Comparison of four different viruses. (Include citations

(Read Part IV of the case and answer questions, include citations for answers where necessary)

1. What is an antibiotic? Why won’t an antibiotic be effective in treating COVID-19?

2. What is an antiviral? When are antiviral treatments most effective? How do antivirals avoid harming the host?

3. For each of the antivirals Kat’s mom identified, suggest a reason why they will not work for SARS-CoV-2.

4. Using what you have learned about COVID-19, suggest a possible target or target step in the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle for an antiviral drug target. Consider how your proposed antiviral target or target step may impact the health or well-being of the human host.

(Read Part V of the case and answer the following questions)

Adopting the role of Megan, draft an email to Kat’s teammates. Consider the following when drafting your email:

• What and how much should you tell the team about the situation with your sister?

• Is it ethical to share the specifics of her situation?

• How much advice (if any) would you provide to the team about quarantine and what to do next?

• Do you think quarantines are effective? Why or why not?

• How would you make the team believe that your advice is real and not anecdotal?

• Would you share any of the science you had learned?

• What will be your next steps going forward?

(Single spaced, all above points addressed, font- Arial, size 10 or 11, not to exceed one page, no word limit)

Dear Team,

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