scholarly journals Online Instruction – Bioinformatics Lesson for a COVID-19 Vaccine

2021 ◽  
Vol 83 (7) ◽  
pp. 464-471
Author(s):  
Nadja Anderson ◽  
Margaret Wilch
Keyword(s):  
Science Teachers ◽  
Online Instruction ◽  
Phylogenetic Trees ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
Good Target ◽  
Evolutionary Relatedness ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Human Coronaviruses ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

In the spring of 2020, remote learning was implemented in schools throughout the world due to the pandemic of SARS CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19. Thrust into online instruction, many science teachers scrambled during this transition, and classes were severely hampered by a lack of hands-on investigations involving critical thinking and problem-solving skills. In response to a need for online experimentation, bioinformatics lessons centered around SARS-CoV-2 were developed. This article presents a multipart bioinformatics lesson that allows students to (1) compare spike protein sequences from the database portal NCBI Virus, to investigate whether this protein would be a good target for a vaccine against COVID-19; and (2) create phylogenetic trees and demonstrate evolutionary relatedness of human coronaviruses. This lesson allows for instruction in molecular biology, virology, immunology, bioinformatics, and phylogenetics, as well as analysis of scientific data. It is appropriate for high school AP Biology and biotechnology courses and can be taught entirely online.

Is The SARS-CoV2 evolved in Human Being: A prospective Genetic Analysis

2020 ◽  
pp. 169-177
Author(s):  
Salvatore Dimonte ◽  
Paywast Jamal Jalal ◽  
Taib Ahmed Hama Soor ◽  
Safa Bakr Karim ◽  
Hiwa Abdulrahman Ahmad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Trees ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Unknown Origin ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Recent Effort ◽  
Human Coronavirus ◽  
Evolutionary Changes ◽  
New Type ◽  
Human Coronaviruses ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

COVID-19 is the deadly respiratory disease of the century caused by new type unknown origin Coronavirus. The recent effort of the word researchers is toward finding the origin of the virus. The current study investigated the extent of molecular similarity and divergence between SARS-CoV2 and other related Coronavirus. An attempt has been made to investigate the epidemiological study of this new contagious virus using molecular biology techniques. The phylogenetic trees for all human coronaviruses with the novel Coronavirus have been built using a several complete amino acid sequences of the four known structural proteins, S (spike), E (envelope), M (membrane), and N (nucleocapsid). The result of the study revealed that the SARS-CoV2 is related to human SARS-CoV isolated from different countries very cloely, especially those strains recovered from China in recent times, 2020. The evolutionary changes observed in the inserted 23 amino acids in the RNA binding domain (RBD) of the coronvirus spike glycoprotein which cannot be detected in any other human coronavirus. Moreover, the 2019-nCoV is not closely related to other alpha, beta and gamma human Coronavirus, including MERS-CoV. The current study concluded that 2019-nCoV is more likely believed to originated from SARS-CoV. The probability is more vital to be originated from the strain isolated in China in 2020, which is coincident with the spraed of COVID-19 in the same country. The phyloepidemiologic analyses suggested that the coronaviruses are circulating in human hosts evolving gradually by times in response to the different environment stimuli facing the virus inside the host in different geographical areas. Furthermore, the analysis showed the flow of transmission, and evolutionary changes of SARS-CoV2 which may be directed from the transmission of SARS-CoV from human to Bat and Pangolin then jumped to human again in the crowded market Wuhan city in China.

scholarly journals Human Coronaviruses: Genetics, Virulence Factors and Pathophysiology, Diseases’ Epidemiology

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 698-712
Author(s):  
Gnatoulma Katawa ◽  
Banfitebiyi Gambogou ◽  
Christèle T. Nguepou ◽  
Essoham Ataba ◽  
Manuel Ritter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Data Bases ◽  
Human Coronaviruses ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Coronaviruses are pathogens for both animals and humans. The recent Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19), caused by a novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), outbreak that took place in Hubei (Wuhan, China) from December 2019 aroused numerous questions regarding the nature and the origin of the SARS-CoV-2. Literature review of the main publications from scientific data bases was undertaken. These data revealed similarities of symptoms and identity of genome with the SARS-CoV. In this review, the genetics and virulence factors of coronaviruses, the disease pathophysiology and epidemiology were examined.

scholarly journals Genetic Variation and Evolution of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Salvatore Dimonte ◽  
Muhammed Babakir-Mina ◽  
Taib Hama-Soor ◽  
Salar Ali
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Rapid Evolution ◽  
Single Amino Acid ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽  
New Type ◽  
Amino Acid Mutations ◽  
Host Infection ◽  
Human Coronaviruses ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> SARS-CoV-2 is a new type of coronavirus causing a pandemic severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-2). Coronaviruses are very diverting genetically and mutate so often periodically. The natural selection of viral mutations may cause host infection selectivity and infectivity. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This study was aimed to indicate the diversity between human and animal coronaviruses through finding the rate of mutation in each of the spike, nucleocapsid, envelope, and membrane proteins. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The mutation rate is abundant in all 4 structural proteins. The most number of statistically significant amino acid mutations were found in spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) which may be because it is responsible for a corresponding receptor binding in a broad range of hosts and host selectivity to infect. Among 17 previously known amino acids which are important for binding of spike to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, all of them are conservative among human coronaviruses, but only 3 of them significantly are mutated in animal coronaviruses. A single amino acid aspartate-454, that causes dissociation of the RBD of the spike and ACE2, and F486 which gives the strength of binding with ACE2 remain intact in all coronaviruses. <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> Observations of this study provided evidence of the genetic diversity and rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 as well as other human and animal coronaviruses.

scholarly journals Bioactive Terpenes and Their Derivatives as Potential SARS-CoV-2 Proteases Inhibitors from Molecular Modeling Studies

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 74
Author(s):  
Lúcio Ricardo Leite Diniz ◽  
Yunierkis Perez-Castillo ◽  
Hatem A. Elshabrawy ◽  
Carlos da Silva Maia Bezerra Filho ◽  
Damião Pergentino de Sousa
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Elderly Individuals ◽  
Global Challenge ◽  
Molecular Modeling Studies ◽  
Human Coronaviruses ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Chronic Comorbidities

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by a novel coronavirus; the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Millions of cases and deaths to date have resulted in a global challenge for healthcare systems. COVID-19 has a high mortality rate, especially in elderly individuals with pre-existing chronic comorbidities. There are currently no effective therapeutic approaches for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Therefore, the identification of effective therapeutics is a necessity. Terpenes are the largest class of natural products that could serve as a source of new drugs or as prototypes for the development of effective pharmacotherapeutic agents. In the present study, we discuss the antiviral activity of these natural products and we perform simulations against the Mpro and PLpro enzymes of SARS-CoV-2. Our results strongly suggest the potential of these compounds against human coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2.

scholarly journals Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 through recombination and strong purifying selection

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (27) ◽  
pp. eabb9153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaojun Li ◽  
Elena E. Giorgi ◽  
Manukumar Honnayakanahalli Marichannegowda ◽  
Brian Foley ◽  
Chuan Xiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Species ◽  
Purifying Selection ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Evolutionary Constraints ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
Human Coronaviruses ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

COVID-19 has become a global pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Understanding the origins of SARS-CoV-2 is critical for deterring future zoonosis, discovering new drugs, and developing a vaccine. We show evidence of strong purifying selection around the receptor binding motif (RBM) in the spike and other genes among bat, pangolin, and human coronaviruses, suggesting similar evolutionary constraints in different host species. We also demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2’s entire RBM was introduced through recombination with coronaviruses from pangolins, possibly a critical step in the evolution of SARS-CoV-2’s ability to infect humans. Similar purifying selection in different host species, together with frequent recombination among coronaviruses, suggests a common evolutionary mechanism that could lead to new emerging human coronaviruses.

scholarly journals USING STEM APPLICATIONS FOR SUPPORTING INTEGRATED TEACHING KNOWLEDGE OF PRE-SERVICE SCIENCE TEACHERS

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 158-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Burcu Alan ◽  
Fikriye Kirbağ Zengin ◽  
Gonca Keçeci
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Science Teachers ◽  
Service Science ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
Teaching Knowledge ◽  
Mixed Method Design ◽  
Post Test ◽  
And Control ◽  
Experimental Group

In this research the effects of STEM applications, which are aimed to support the integrated teaching knowledge of pre-service science teachers on the problem solving skills of pre-service science teachers were examined. The research was carried out in scope of the mixed method design of convergent parallel design. The research was conducted with pre-service science teachers of experimental group (n=31) and control group (n=31) who were studying at Fırat University. STEM applications including Algodoo were carried out with the pre-service teachers in the experimental group for one term. The data of the research were collected through the problem solving inventory test (PSIT), prospects diaries during the process of the pre-service science teachers in the experiment group. Quantitative data were analyzed using unpaired samples t-test. Statistically significant differences were found in favor of the experimental group when the PSIT post-test scores of the pre-service teachers in the experimental and control groups were analyzed. They said that STEM education is necessary and important for them, much better products arise as a result of gathering different disciplines, but integration of four disciplines is not easy.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 and human milk: what is the evidence?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly A. Lackey ◽  
Ryan M. Pace ◽  
Janet E. Williams ◽  
Lars Bode ◽  
Sharon M. Donovan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Human Milk ◽  
Vertical Transmission ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Single Study ◽  
Public Health Challenges ◽  
Specific Igg ◽  
Health Communities ◽  
Human Coronaviruses ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

ABSTRACTThe novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has emerged as one of the most compelling and concerning public health challenges of our time. To address the myriad issues generated by this pandemic, an interdisciplinary breadth of research, clinical, and public health communities has rapidly engaged to collectively find answers and solutions. One area of active inquiry is understanding the mode(s) of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. While respiratory droplets are a known mechanism of transmission, other mechanisms are likely. Of particular importance to global health is the possibility of vertical transmission from infected mothers to infants through breastfeeding or consumption of human milk. However, there is limited published literature related to vertical transmission of any human coronaviruses (including SARS-CoV-2) via human milk and/or breastfeeding. Results of the literature search reported here (finalized on April 17, 2020) revealed a single study providing some evidence of vertical transmission of human coronavirus 229E; a single study evaluating presence of SARS-CoV in human milk (it was negative); and no published data on MERS-CoV and human milk. We identified 12 studies reporting human milk tested for SARS-CoV-2; one study detected the virus in one milk sample, and another study detected SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG in milk. Importantly, none of the studies on coronaviruses and human milk report validation of their collection and analytical methods for use in human milk. These reports are evaluated here, and their implications related to the possibility of vertical transmission of coronaviruses (in particular, SARS-CoV-2) during breastfeeding are discussed.

scholarly journals Choices of pre-service science teachers laboratory environments: Hands-on or hands-off?

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-51
Author(s):  
Hasan Ozgur Kapici ◽  
Hasan Akçay
Keyword(s):  
Science Teachers ◽  
Conceptual Understanding ◽  
Scientific Reasoning ◽  
Service Science ◽  
Attractive Alternative ◽  
Science And Technology Education ◽  
Virtual Lab ◽  
Online Laboratory ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Scientific Reasoning Skills

AbstractLearning in laboratories for students is not only crucial for conceptual understanding, but also contributes to gaining scientific reasoning skills. Following fast developments in technology, online laboratory environments have been improved considerably and nowadays form an attractive alternative for hands-on laboratories. The study was done in order to reveal pre-service science teachers’ preferences for hands-on or online laboratory environments. Participants of the study were 41 pre-service science teachers who were enrolled in a 13-week course on laboratory applications in science education. Findings showed that more than half of the pre-service science teachers would prefer to use hands-on laboratory environments for both conceptual teaching in their classrooms and to develop their students’ science process skills. The reasons behind their choices are discussed.Keywords: Online lab, hands-on lab, virtual lab, science and technology education, pre-service science teachers.* ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Hasan Özgur Kapıcı , Yıldız Teknik Ünivesitesi, Istanbul, TurkeyE-mail

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