The inner workings of a Coronavirus from a Passionate Virologist – Jennifer Smith PhD, Hawaii

Jennifer Smith is a PhD in microbiology, immunology, and epidemiology. • 1:09

Upcoming LinkedIn live conference to feature experts in various fields. • 1:30

Jennifer’s background includes studying influenza viruses and Ebola. • 2:31

Passion for virology stemmed from interest in infectious diseases. • 3:14

Jennifer monitored virus ecology in live markets in Southeast Asia. • 4:15

Collaborators discovered the SARS coronavirus during the 2003 epidemic in China. • 5:18

PCR is a powerful tool harnessing DNA replication to identify genes of interest. • 7:22

PCR can amplify a specific gene of interest through exponential growth with each cycle. • 8:05

For RNA viruses like SARS-COV2, reverse transcription is used to convert RNA into DNA for PCR testing. • 8:28

Quantitative real-time PCR allows visualization of gene detection in real-time through fluorescence technology. • 9:15

Some confusion arises regarding PCR’s ability to identify viruses, but it is a powerful tool for gene detection. • 9:58

PCR testing detects genetic material but not live virus replication. • 10:18

Quantitative PCR measures amount of virus or gene copies based on cycles. • 10:39

High cycle numbers in PCR can lead to false positives like primer dimers. • 11:47

Running tests at 45 cycles can increase false positive results. • 12:29

Standard controls and titration help determine virus presence and quantity in PCR assays. • 13:14

Long positive results may occur due to residual sub genomic messages even after recovery. • 14:22

Cycle threshold values above 30 indicate non-infectious individuals. • 15:41

CDC’s change to using 28 cycles aims to sequence isolates for mutations. • 16:44

Concern about overcounting positives due to high cycle thresholds. • 17:31

PCR tests for coronavirus should differentiate between other coronaviruses. • 18:11

Detection of virus-specific targets is crucial for accurate positive identification. • 18:52

Issues with categorizing cases of coronavirus and COVID-19 due to testing limitation. • 19:34

Emergency use approval for testing kits without full validation, leading to potential errors in counting case. • 19:57

Acknowledgment of a pandemic despite possible overcounting, with focus on clinical impact and hospitalization. • 20:32

Discussion on the genetic similarities and differences between SARS-CoV and the current coronavirus, highlighting the increased virulence of the latte. • 21:08

Clarification on the severity of common human coronaviruses causing pneumonia and hospitalizations, especially in immunocompromised individual. • 21:51

Explanation of the increased virulence of the current coronavirus due to its tight binding to the host receptor ACE2, facilitating replication and transmissio. • 23:23

Soluble ACE2 in bloodstream may form antigen-antibody complexes with the virus. • 24:23

Severe disease triggered by immune response rather than viral infection itself. • 25:03

Virus may become more attenuated as it interacts with new hosts, aiming for balance between replication and host survival. • 26:16

Concern about bypassing mucosal immunity with rushed therapeutics and vaccines. • 27:44

Correlates of protection needed to prevent infection and severe illness. • 28:50

Uncertainty on the required immune response level for sterilizing immunity. • 29:09

Virus evades detection until reaching the lungs, allowing for pre-symptomatic transmission. • 30:38

COVID-19 more transmissible than flu due to pre-symptomatic transmission. • 31:00

Therapeutics may be less effective once symptoms appear due to rapid viral spread. • 32:16

COVID-19 primarily affects the lower respiratory tract compared to influenza. • 32:54

Relaxing preventive measures prematurely is not advised as challenges in controlling the virus persist. • 33:20

Overreliance on COVID-19 testing has muddied the clinical picture of the disease. • 33:38

Symptoms are essential for a disease to be present, not just a positive test result. • 34:00

Microthrombi in the lungs, not inflammation, contribute to severe outcomes in COVID-19 patients with underlying lung diseases. • 34:41

The spread of a respiratory virus by asymptomatic individuals raises questions about transmission mechanisms. • 36:06

Factors like pH, temperature, and human respiratory rate play roles in virus transmission via aerosols. • 37:03

Challenges faced in developing intranasal influenza vaccines include delivery methods and efficacy issues. • 37:45

Live attenuated vaccine delivery method affecting efficac. • 38:05

Importance of mucosal immunity stimulation for virus preventio. • 38:43

Differential expression of ACE2 receptor based on age and gende. • 39:47

Obesity as a risk factor for severe COVID-19 due to increased ACE2 level. • 40:50

Testing not always necessary for colds without specific treatmen. • 42:08

Importance of supporting research on coronavirus therapeutics and immunity. • 43:28

Studying past coronavirus outbreaks can inform current pandemic responses. • 43:46

Reinfection rates among individuals who had the disease are relatively low. • 44:28

Question raised on whether previously infected individuals are more protected than vaccinated ones. • 44:45

Natural acquired immunity is considered better than passive immunity. • 45:07

Understanding the immune response to SARS and MERS can guide COVID-19 research. • 45:28

Concerns about antibody dependent enhancement in vaccinating individuals who had COVID-19. • 46:09

Elderly population may have pre-existing immunity to common human coronaviruses. • 46:30

Importance of researching how COVID-19 affects peopl. • 46:49

Need for understanding the virus-body interaction for better preparednes. • 47:29

Clarification on PCR testing confusio. • 48:05

Call for unbiased and practical scientific solution. • 48:26