The COVID-19 outbreak and response has been characterized by institutional missteps, media misinformation, and economic and social upheavals. This book is intended to de-mystify and inform in a succinct and straightforward text. The lessons shared are applicable to other infectious diseases and future inevitable pandemics. Readers will learn about the origins of COVID-19, the disease it causes, tests and how they work, therapeutics and prophylactic measures such as vaccines. This text prepares readers to be better able to respond to future emerging infectious diseases and pandemics.
Key Features
Positively influences career choices within public health
Applies basic science to problems raised by the COVID-19 pandemic such as vaccine development and herd immunity
Prepares readers with context and tactics for understanding future infectious disease outbreaks
Successfully used in college senior health sciences seminars
Engaging and balanced treatment of the politicization of public health issues, especially COVID-19
Related Titles
Goswami, S. & C. Day, eds. COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2: The Science and Clinical Application of Conventional and Complimentary Treatments (ISBN 9781032011950).
Koley, T. K. & M. Dhole. The COVID-19 Pandemic: The Deadly Coronavirus Outbreak (ISBN 9780367558895).
Ryan, J. M., ed. COVID-19 – Two volume set (ISBN 9780367740610).
Author(s): Michael T. Myers Jr.
Edition: 1
Publisher: CRC Press
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 246
City: Boca Raton
Tags: COVID-19; Infectious Diseases; Epidemiology; Pandemics; Public Health
Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Author
Acronyms
COVID-19 Timeline
Introduction: Foray into the Field
COVID-19 Update: May 9, 2022
A Bewildering Landscape
An Emerging Infectious Diseases Field Guide
Using This Field Guide
The Many Paths of Exploration
Venturing into COVID-19—and EIDs
Notes
Chapter 1 The SARS-CoV-2 Virus
Field Expedition: NASA’s Ten-Word Definition of Life
Lesson Learned: NASA’s Ten-Word Definition of Life
Concepts Covered in This Chapter
Nucleic Acids Are the Self-Sustaining Chemical System of Life
The Virus as Industrial Insurrectionist
Virus Classification Systems
The SARS-CoV-2 Genome
SARS-CoV-2 Is a Single-Stranded Positive Sense RNA Virus
Protein Translation Starts with ORF1a Making NSP1–NSP11
Protein Translation Continues with ORF1b Making NSP12–NSP16
Immune System Evasion and Accessory Proteins
SARS-CoV-2 Life Cycle
SARS-CoV-2 Cell Entry, Cytoplasmic Replication, and Exit
Interrupting the Virus Life Cycle
Virus Mutability
How Mutations Occur
Mutation Terminology
SARS-CoV-2 Variants
More Variants: Not If, but When
Looking Back, Looking Ahead
Future Outings
Student Research Questions
Notes
Chapter 2 The Origins of SARS-CoV-2
Field Expedition: The Bat Woman
Lesson Learned: The Bat Woman
Concepts Covered in This Chapter
SARS-CoV-2: An Emerging Infectious Disease
Zoonotic Spillover Theory
Bats as Animal Reservoirs for Lethal Zoonotic Pathogens
Laboratory Leak Theory
Official Reviews of Laboratory Leak and Zoonotic Spillover Theories
Looking Back, Looking Ahead
Future Outings
Student Research Questions
Notes
Chapter 3 COVID-19 Disease Manifestations
Field Expedition: The Three Phases of Syphilis
Lessons Learned: The Three Phases of Syphilis
Concepts Covered in This Chapter
COVID-19 Is a New Disease Entity
Symptoms
COVID-19 Symptoms
Clinical Stages
COVID-19 Clinical Stages
Host Factors
COVID-19 Host Factors
Comorbid Conditions
COVID-19 Comorbid Conditions
Pathophysiology
COVID-19 Pathophysiology
ACE2 Receptors, Fluid Balance, and Inflammation
Alveolar Epithelial Cells
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
PASC and MIS-C
Looking Back, Looking Ahead
Future Outings
Student Research Questions
Chapter 4 Testing
Field Expedition: Michael Mina’s Mission
Lesson Learned: Michael Mina’s Mission
Concepts Covered in This Chapter
Types of Clinical Tests
Performance Characteristics of Clinical Tests
“Gold Standard” or Reference Standard Test
Positive and Negative Predictive Values
Clinical Test Results and Disease Probability
Bayes’s Theorem of Pre-Test Probability
Making the Correct Diagnosis of a Disease
Using Clinical Tests in Making Diagnoses
Making the Correct Diagnosis of COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2 Clinical Tests
Serologic Antibody Tests
PCR Tests
RDTs
Using Clinical Tests in Making COVID-19 Diagnoses
Looking Back, Looking Ahead
Future Outings
Student Research Questions
Notes
Chapter 5 Therapeutics
Field Expedition: The Strange Case of Ivermectin
Lesson Learned: The Strange Case of Ivermectin
Concepts Covered in This Chapter
Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs)
NPIs in Another Age: The 1918 Influenza Pandemic
The Path to Scientifically Sound Therapeutics
Scientific Method
Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs)
Peer-Reviewed Journals
Consolidated Statement of Reporting Trials (CONSORT)
Pharmacologic Principles
Designing Therapeutic Agents: Viral Life Cycle and Pathophysiology
Viral Life Cycle
Viral-Induced Pathophysiology
Three Challenges in Developing Antiviral Medications
National Institutes of Health COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines
NIH COVID-19 Treatment Recommendations
Paxlovid™ (Ritonavir-Boosted Nirmatrelvir)
Remdesivir
Bebtelovimab
Molnupiravir
NPIs and Therapeutics as Dual Measures
Looking Back, Looking Ahead
Future Outings
Student Research Questions
Notes
Chapter 6 Regulatory Agencies
Field Expedition: The Booster Announcement
Lesson Learned: The Booster Announcement
Concepts Covered in This Chapter
The United States: A Constitutional Federal Republic
Regulatory Agencies as the “Fourth Branch” of Government
Two Key Regulatory Agencies: The CDC and FDA
Legal Framework
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
FDA Approval Process
Emergency Use Authorization
The Pandemic as Civics Lesson
Looking Back, Looking Ahead
Future Outings
Student Research Questions
Notes
Chapter 7 Vaccines
Field Expedition: Jeryl Lynn’s Mumps
Lesson Learned: Jeryl Lynn’s Mumps
Concepts Covered in This Chapter
Dr. Jenner’s Variolation Experiments
A Vaccination Triumph: The Eradication of Smallpox
The Smallpox Vaccine
How Vaccines Work
Vaccines Usurp the Immune System
Immune System Response to Infection
Interactions among Immunologic Cells of the Adaptive Immune System
Vaccine Formulation
Types of Vaccines
Vaccine Clinical Trials
Clinical Trials and Scientific Truth
Clinical Trial Phases
SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines
Four Reasons for Rapid Development of mRNA-Based Vaccines
Earlier Work with mRNA Technology
Lessons Learned from SARS and MERS
Release of the SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Sequence
Operation Warp Speed
Vaccine Confusion: Too Much of a Good Thing
Vaccine Hesitancy and Resistance
Existing Background of Distrust
State Response to Vaccine Hesitancy
Looking Back, Looking Ahead
Future Outings
Student Research Questions
Notes
Chapter 8 Herd Immunity
Field Expedition: Sweden’s Risky Experiment
Lesson Learned: Sweden’s Risky Experiment
Concepts Covered in This Chapter
What Is Herd Immunity?
Herd Immunity Threshold
Herd Immunity during COVID-19
Natural Immunity
Conferred Immunity
Herd Immunity during the Pre-Vaccination Phase
Great Barrington Declaration vs. John Snow Memorandum
Herd Immunity during the Post-Vaccination Period
Herd Immunity Threshold in the Post-Vaccination Period
Herd Immunity vs. “A Path to Normality”
Looking Back, Looking Ahead
Future Outings
Student Research Questions
Notes
Chapter 9 Global Concerns
Field Expedition: The World Health Organization Strategy
Lesson Learned: The WHO Strategy
Concepts Covered in This Chapter
What Vaccinating the World Means
SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Begins
Twenty-First Century Problems
From Eradicating Smallpox to Eliminating Other Infectious Diseases
Public–Private Partnerships: Gavi, CEPI, and COVAX
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI)
COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access Facility (COVAX)
Looking Back, Looking Ahead
Future Outings
Student Research Questions
Notes
Chapter 10 Covidiocy
Field Expedition: Vector in Chief
Lesson Learned: Vector in Chief
Concepts Covered in This Chapter
The COVID-19 Infodemic
The Overabundance of Information
The Misuse of Information
The Harmful Consequences of Misinformation
Covidiocy
Irrational Behaviors and Beliefs Observed during the Pandemic
Underlying Causes and Driving Forces for Irrational Behavior
Logical Fallacies
Bias
Cultural Values
Looking Back, Looking Ahead
Future Outings
Student Research Questions
Notes
Conclusion: Our Pandemic Future
Glossary
Index
