For your discussion post: In March, 2020, the state of New York quickly became the epicenter for the COVID-19 virus and worldwide pandemic. Since that time, different variants of the virus have infect

module 6: Omicron

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Valentina Fuentealba Cornejo posted Jun 15, 2024 8:24 PM

Like other variants of SARS-CoV-2, the Omicron variant primarily affects the respiratory system. According to a study published in the journal Nature Medicine, the Omicron variant has a higher affinity for binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor in human cells compared to the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 (Huang, 2022). This increased binding affinity contributes to the increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant.

When the virus infects the cells lining the respiratory tract, it can cause inflammation and damage to the lungs, leading to symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, and, in severe cases, pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

To prevent infection by the COVID-19 virus, including the Omicron variant, vaccines have been developed. One of the most widely used vaccines is the mRNA vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.

The mRNA vaccines work by introducing a synthetic messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule into the body's cells. This mRNA carries the genetic instructions for the cells to produce the spike protein found on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Once the cells produce this spike protein, the immune system recognizes it as a foreign substance and mounts an immune response, producing antibodies and activating T cells to fight off a potential infection.

According to a study published in the journal Nature, the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine was found to be 95% effective in preventing COVID-19 infection in clinical trials (Polack, 2020). The vaccine triggers the production of neutralizing antibodies that can bind to the spike protein on the virus and prevent it from entering and infecting cells.

COVID-19 Delta Variant

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Kathleen Kratzer posted Jun 16, 2024 3:56 PM

The Delta variant emerged as a significant strain of the COVID-19 virus. It was first identified in India in late 2020 and spread worldwide and wasn't named until March 2021 as the "Delta Variant". By mid-2021 the delta variant was the dominant strain in many countries. It has been associated with increased transmissibility and potentially more severe illness than earlier virus strains.

Impact on the Respiratory System:

The Delta variant has been known to produce higher viral loads located in the respiratory tract. What this means, is that individuals infected with delta can have a larger quantity of virus in their throat and nose, which then causes higher transmissibility and sometimes, more severe symptoms (Sheikh et al., 2021).

Those infected with the delta variant sometimes experienced more severe respiratory symptoms. Those included shortness of breath, persistent cough, and even chest pain.

Many studies have found that those infected with the delta variant had higher risk and hospitalizations compared to those with other variants. This was likely because of its increased virulence and how the body's inflammatory system responded to the infection (Sheikh et al., 2021).

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine

The Pfizer vaccine is an mRNA-based vaccine. It works by telling cells in the body to produce a protein that triggers an immune response. A clinical trial was published in The New Enlange Journal of Medicine that demonstrated the Pfizer vaccine was 95% effective in preventing COVID-19 infection in patients without prior infection. Showing a strong immune response after the second dose (Polack et al., 2020).