COVID-19 and the Immune System Lecture Notes

This set of flashcards covers key concepts and terms related to COVID-19 and the immune system as discussed in the lecture notes.

Coronaviruses

A family of viruses that cause respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19.

SARS-CoV-2

The virus responsible for COVID-19, known for its crown-like appearance due to spike glycoproteins.

Epidemiology

The branch of medicine concerned with the incidence, distribution, and control of diseases.

R0 (R naught)

A measure of infectiousness, representing the average number of people an infected person will infect.

Cytokine storm

An excessive and uncontrolled release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can cause severe damage to the body.

Innate immune response

The body's first line of defense against pathogens, which includes physical barriers and immune cells like macrophages.

Adaptive immune response

A specific immune response that develops over time, involving B and T lymphocytes and generating memory against pathogens.

Antibody

A protein produced by B cells that can specifically bind to and neutralize pathogens.

Long COVID

A condition in which symptoms persist for months or years after initial COVID-19 infection, affecting multiple organ systems.

Paxlovid

An antiviral medication used to treat COVID-19, including Nirmatrelvir and Ritonavir as main ingredients.

Droplet transmission

Spread of disease through large respiratory droplets that travel short distances (less than 6 feet).

Airborne transmission

Spread of disease through smaller droplets that can remain suspended in the air for long periods and travel further than 6 feet.

Spike glycoprotein

Protein on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 that facilitates entry into host cells by binding to the ACE2 receptor.

T lymphocytes (T cells)

A type of white blood cell that plays a central role in the adaptive immune response, recognizing and killing infected cells.

Macrophages

Immune cells that engulf and digest pathogens and are crucial for initiating the adaptive immune response.

Nucleocapsid

A protein structure surrounding the RNA genome in coronaviruses, crucial for the virus's replication.