Author: aliciamejia10

I wanted to pick a super interesting outbreak that has happened recently, and I came across one that started in a pet store! There was a link between Campylobacter jejuni and an online pet store back in January. First Campylobacter jejuni is a spirally curved microaerophilic gram-negative rod. Its reservoir is in animals, and it is transmitted by poor hand washing after touching poultry/animals or ingesting infected water. It takes a very low dose to be infected. It’s signs and symptoms are fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. In severe cases a person may develop dysentery (diarrhea with blood and pus). People usually are over the infection after about a week with no antibiotics, unless there is a severe case. 

So how did this outbreak happen? Laboratory findings concluded that the outbreak was caused by contact with puppies from an online pet store called Petland! 30 infected people were reported across 13 US states. There were 4 hospitalizations and no deaths. There were 24 people interviewed and 88% reported that they had contact with a puppy. Out of the sample who were in contact with a puppy, 80% of individuals were in contact with a puppy from Petland.

Conclusion: Don’t buy a puppy from Petland (kidding), BUT you do have to be very precautious with puppies in general. Make sure to wash your hands, and don’t let them lick your face! It is really important to take your puppy to the vet after adoption for a check up. You should also consistently disinfect after cleaning throw up/ poop. I did not realize that you could get this infection from puppies so I will also take extra precautions to wash my hands and you should too!

Hello!

This week I want to discuss the monoclonal antibody Palivizumab. A monoclonal antibody is one that is made by identical immune cells that are clones of a unique parent cell. Palivizumab antibodies bind to the same epitope that immune cells would in targeting the antigenic site of the F protein of RSV. By doing this, it positively affects the innate immune response. The injection Palivizumab is commonly known as Synagis. This injection is given to children to prevent RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus).  RSV is a common infection in immunocompromised infants. It causes sloughing of the respiratory epithelium and inflammation of the bronchioles. It typically causes a secondary infection of pneumonia. There is no vaccine but is preventable by Palivizumab. 

According to Mayo Clinic, this injection works by giving your body the necessary antibodies to prevent RSV. This injection keeps RSV cells from multiplying in the blood. It does not work effectively if the child is already infected. The side effects include:

• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Redness or irritation at injection site
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Some more serious side effects include:

• Severe skin rash
• Itching
• Hives (urticaria)
• Difficulty breathing

Most of these are normal and are due to your body adjusting to the medicine; however, it is important to be aware of allergic reactions that could be related to the injection. This drug has been known to cause anaphylaxis in some children, so good communication with your healthcare provider is necessary. The drug does not make you susceptible to other infections. 

The fact that there are injections that can copy your immune cells to deliver a response specifically for the infection you may potentially have is amazing. It is so cool that we have the ability to create immunity. This drug does have to be taken every month for the entire season of RSV. It is important to note that it is not used to treat RSV just to protect against the infection. I think RSV is an interesting infection, and the technology in monoclonal antibodies is pretty remarkable. 

Have a great weekend!!

Hello!

I wanted to put Covid-19 to rest for one blog and discuss another disease that thankfully isn’t as pressing: Bird Flu. I picked this disease because my family recently bought baby chicks and my boyfriend jokes with me to stop holding them because I will get avian flu. I didn’t know too much about it before writing this blog so I thought it would be interesting and fun to share with you. This virus is an enveloped RNA virus. It occurs naturally among bird species worldwide.

This virus is important to detect because obviously poultry is a large part of many individuals’ diets. There was a recent outbreak in South Carolina among the chicken farming community. It has been the most serious/fatal strain of the disease since 2017. There are two common strains of low pathogenic bird flu: H5 and H7 which can mutate into highly pathogenic strains. This makes it easily transmitted between species. These low pathogenic strains were already in the NC/SC area; however, further testing revealed a high pathogenic strain that mutated into a more severe version of the disease. When this occurs, farmers have to kill all the infected birds which is very tragic. According to another article, no human cases have been detected but the effects it has on farming is severe. 

Unfortunately, because Covid-19 is so severe, other really important news gets brushed under the rug which is really sad. Not all of it is bad, and it is really hard to rejoice the good news when the media is filled with the pandemic. I’m not saying that there should be less coverage. I just want to emphasize that there are always things going on and right now the virus has blinded many people from other news. Some examples are: apparently young gorillas are beginning to learn how to dismantle poacher traps in the wild and Italy’s waterways are clearing and pools of fish and dolphins have been spotted in the canals. These are just things I have read in various places. I hope this encourages you to look for the good in this troubling time. 

Happy Easter!

Hello!!

This week I will be discussing how tests determine whether you have Covid-19 based on your antibody response. There are two classes of antibodies that I will be discussing today. First there is the IgM antibody. Your body produces this antibody class first during a primary response. When it binds to the antigen, it activates the complement system. The second antibody class is the IgG molecule.  It is the most abundant class in the blood and tissue fluids. This molecule binds to the antigen and sends signals to guide phagocytosis. This molecule also activates the complement system. This molecule is special because it is the only one that can provide protection to a baby because it can be transported across the placenta. It provides the longest term protection because of its long half life which can protect the baby for several months after its born. 

So how is this useful in Covid-19 testing? According to an article in MedicineNet, a total detection of three lines is possible. There is a quality control line, an IgM line, and an IgG line. You have a negative result if only the quality control line appears and there is no G and M line. You have a positive if both the quality control line (C) and the IgM (M) line appears. You have a positive if the IgG and C line appear. You have a positive if all three C, M, and G lines appear. If the immunoglobulin tests are all negative, that means you have not been recently exposed to the virus. If the M line appears, that means you are in the early stages of the virus infection. If both lines appear, that means you are in the middle stages of infection. If only the G line appears, that means that the person is either over the infection or in its last stages.  This makes sense right? Because IgG has a long half life, it stays in your system longer than IgA. IgA is the first antibody class that’s produced during infection so if it’s not in your system and IgG is, you have had Covid-19 for a while. This is really important to understand because people who are IgG positive are contagious and could potentially continue to infect others. This is also cool because they may be growing an immune response.

I know that was a lot to grasp, but it is really cool stuff to know. Unfortunately, not everyone can be tested. According to NPR, there is a severe shortage for test kits in the US. The president is insistent that the situation is improving, but in reality: we do not know. I personally have had friends tell me that their family members may have Covid-19, but their healthcare providers refused to test them due to the lack of resources. If we do not know the true statistics for who does and does not have the virus, we can’t make overstated claims on the current situation. I pray that everyone reading (and others too(: ) are safe and healthy during this time.

Also Happy Easter!!

As this pandemic continues, it is sometimes hard to understand what medical professionals/researchers are dealing with when tackling this virus. I want to discuss a popular treatment that was extrapolated in the news: Remdesivir. My mother called me one day after hearing that there was a “cure” for Covid-19. I, being very confused because I was not expecting to hear that for about a year, asked her what exactly she heard and she said something about the drug Remdesivir. After doing research today, I was able to conclude that this drug has NOT been proven effective, but it is important to understand why it may have worked. 

Remdesivir was one of the drugs that had been previously used to treat other coronaviruses like SARS and MERS. Its use was to stop the ability of the virus to produce new genomes for emerging viruses and stop its ability to make new proteins. Unfortunately, its ability to work against Covid-19 does not seem likely. There was a trial conducted where patients were given Remdesivir 2x a day for 14 days, and it concluded with no benefits from the drug. It is hard to sit at home and read breaking news articles that are skewed by the media stating that a cure is found. Hope is important but understanding is needed in times like these because we do not know what the next outcome will be. 

Taking time to do research on things you hear or read is really important. It is really easy to be passive, but it is important to take time to read from CREDIBLE sources. The general population has just as much of a duty to be active listeners to professionals as they have in research. This is a major thing that I have tried to emphasize to my mother. Hearing what you want to hear is sometimes more powerful than the facts. Listen to the CDC and abstain from reading flashy articles. That’s what I tell her (love you mom). 

Stay Safe! 

This type of therapy is pretty remarkable. There is still a lot of research being made, but the methodology is amazing. First, T cells are lymphocyte immune cells that mature in the thymus. Basically, they protect the body from cancer cells and pathogens. A therapy that has been worked on for decades is CAR T-Cell therapy for adults with lymphoma. Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system. It includes the lymph nodes, spleen, thymus gland, and bone marrow. This therapy modifies a patient’s T cells from blood causing them to attack cancer cells.

In a lab after a blood sample is collected, the T cells are infused with a special receptor that binds to specific proteins on the patient’s cancer cells. This receptor is the CAR (chimeric antigen receptor). Once the T cells are infused with the CAR receptor that are grown in large numbers and then given to the patient by infusion. Then, the newly developed T cells will bind to the cancer cells and destroy them (NIH). This therapy has been known to cause neurological damage; however, a groundbreaking trial in 2017 caused far fewer side effects than the original therapy. The sample size was small, but out of the 20 patients, only one had neurological damage. 
This therapy seems really awesome, but I also want to touch on some of the serious symptoms and pricing. According to the American Cancer Society, research has revealed that the serious side effects seem to be due to the cytokines produced. This increase in cytokines can cause very high fevers and very low blood pressure. This is called cytokine release syndrome, or CRS. Other serious side effects include: brain swelling, seizures, or severe headaches, and an increased risk for infection due to the CAR T cells killing good B cells. Unfortunately, CAR T cells have to be consistently infused in the body because they are not lasting. This means that multiple rounds are necessary. Each round costs on average $373,000. Insurance coverage is case by case. Many individuals have to weigh out if the treatment is worth multiples of that sum of money. Again, research is still occuring and hopefully once more information is gathered, the price will decrease.

Hi there! 

This week I will also be talking about Tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This bacteria can infect any part of the body but usually affects the lungs. Not everyone who contracts this infection becomes sick. This is why there are two types: latent TB infection (LTBI) and TB disease. 

According to the Medical News Today, Latent TB is when the bacteria can live inside you without making you sick. Most people who breathe in the bacteria become infected but their body is strong enough to fight it. This is still concerning because although they have no symptoms, they can still infect others. For most, this bacteria will remain inactive for the person’s life but for the immunocompromised, it can become active and turn into TB disease. People with this disease are sick and need treatment. Their symptoms include a 3+ week long bad cough, pain in chest, coughing blood, night sweats, weight loss and more. 

There has been recent news about TB. This past week was world TB day (March 24th). The World Health Organization notes that TB is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide. Also, one quarter of the world has the latent infection. There is a target to end this epidemic by 2030 by treating 40 million people between 2018-2022, giving at least 30 million people preventative treatment in this same time frame, providing 13 billion dollars towards diagnosis, treatment, and care, and finally using at least 2 billion dollars to fund research. These are big goals but are necessary to fight this infection. Because this bacteria is mutating, it is necessary to stop it soon before more individuals become infected. 

Hello! 

This post is a bit off brand for this website considering I will be covering my personal experiences with Covid-19 and how I am spending my time. To start, I’ve been blessed to have had a pretty good experience social distancing with my family. My parents are thankfully still working so we have not had to stress over finances. I do not personally know anyone who has contracted the virus. This is a weird time to say the least. It feels like we are fighting, quite literally, this invisible thing that has completely changed our lifestyles in the matter of weeks. My parents are pretty strict as far as quarantining so I have not met up with friends but have had the privilege to see my boyfriend consistently. We grew up in the same town and are both back so this is a small fortune for us considering we go to seperate universities. I am allowed to leave the house to go on runs which has been nice. I love nature and I live close to the mountains so being in nature is something I have gotten to do more since I’ve been home. 

My week consists of LOADS of homework/ zoom classes. This is expected considering I am still in college. ALL my classes meet online at their regular times so that has been kind of rough. I am in my room from like 11am to 3pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays so that has been something I’ve had to adjust to. Typically I would get to walk around in between class change but now I just log into my next class. I have a lot more time which is nice since I’m not working at my lab anymore at UNC; however, this is sad. I really miss working with remarkable people doing cool things. I don’t have any clubs anymore either so now I just have a lot of free time. I am still trying to find my routine. I am anxious about all my exams/quizzes because I don’t really know what to expect. I find myself doing too much or too little so finding that balance is key. Time limits are also really stressful on quizzes, but I know I will get used to it as time goes on. I am currently stressed about volunteering and doing something at this time for credentials. I am applying to the nursing school next year and was going to start volunteering at two amazing organizations when I got back from spring break. It is not a make or break if I get into nursing school next year, but I would’ve at least liked to give my best effort. I am a pre-med/pre-nursing neuroscience and psychology double major and will likely apply to both after undergrad but next year was just something I wanted to give a shot at. I understand the circumstances so I’m trying not to be too hard on myself. It’s just a stark change from being on the go all the time in college to sitting in my room for hours throughout the week. I also REALLY miss my suitemates. They’re awesome, but we facetime so that makes things better. 

Basically, I really want to use this time to focus on my school work and understand the material as well as I can. I want to focus on my relationship with God and do my daily quiet time. I also really want to embrace this time with family. This may be the last time I will “live” at home considering my apartment lease starts in August so I want to cherish our time together. I really don’t want to waste this time with procrastination. This virus is terrible and has affected many people, so I need to be grateful that I have time for myself and family. Shoutout to Jordan for being the only one who reads my weekly posts. This one was a bit longer so I’m sorry but I hope this time has treated you well and that you weren’t too bored reading a peek into my life. 

Fun Fact: I finished all the pirates of the carribean movies!! (I’ve never seen them before) Rate: B+

Hello!

A lot has happened since my last blog post. This virus has turned into a pandemic and has caused thousands of deaths around the world. There are a few key things to keep in mind when discussing these issues. First, panic will not help our current situation. I think it is very important to inform individuals of this because a lot of false media can be spread in light of the situation. Currently, my family is avoiding large crowds to the best of our ability. I am not allowed to go anywhere where many people may be due to the virus, which can be maddening but is for the best. As many of you already know, UNC has extended spring break for another week and will mainly go online after that week until further notice. This is a major deal that sobers us to the severity of the situation. I thankfully do not personally know anyone who has contracted the virus. 

According to the NCDHHS, there are currently 23 cases in North Carolina. There have been no deaths in NC. Nationally, there are 1,694 cases and 41 US deaths have occurred. Most of the cases are in eastern NC. I live in Taylorsville which is in the western more rural part of the state so thankfully this region is less at risk for spreading the virus. As of today, governor Roy Cooper announced that all public K-12 schools will be closed for the next two weeks. This is an interesting decision. I understand that crowded environments like schools are hot spots for the spread of this virus; however, the individuals who will mainly have to watch these children while schools are closed are grandparents/ older individuals. I believe this decision was made with the idea that most children have not contracted the virus; however, that is something to think about. Also, if small children are at home many parents will have to stay home to watch them which will impact their jobs. All of this is to say that the severity of this issue has grown drastically in a very short period of time. It is important for everyone to understand that and take the precautions needed to stop the spread. 

According to the CDC, the same precautions are being stated. Wash your hands frequently for 20 seconds. Avoid large crowds. Stay home if you are sick. These precautions are repetitive but are necessary to slow the spread. There is currently no vaccine and probably won’t be one for a while. In order to keep the immunocompromised and elderly safe, a group effort has to be made. 

Welcome Back! 

This week I will be discussing HSV-1 and HSV-2 (Herpes Simplex Virus 1&2). These viruses are both double stranded enveloped DNA viruses. They are both latent infections that reoccur when the immune system weakens. According to an article in Medical News Today, HSV-1 is the main cause of cold sores and HSV-2 is the main cause of genital herpes. Transmission of these cold sores is primarily caused by kissing and transmission of genital herpes is caused by skin to skin contact in sexual activity. HSV-1&2 affects 50-80% of the population. This is a large number which makes it an important virus to understand.

One thing I was really confused about is why HSV-1 symptoms do not occur in some individuals. I am an example of someone who has been in contact with individuals with cold sores, but I have never had a cold sore in my life. Through research, I was informed that because it is an asymptomatic virus, some individuals can carry the virus without showing symptoms due to their genes. For most individuals, it takes about a week for symptoms to occur. I am lucky to have never had a cold sore, but this is still an important infection to understand. 

Personally, my main prevention method is abstinence (HSV-2 specifically). If you are currently sexually active, it is important to know your partners well enough to know if they have HSV-2. In cases where HSV-2 is present, abstinence and condoms are the best prevention methods. Because it is latent, in between outbreaks there are smaller chances for the virus to be transmitted. Being really honest with your significant other is important, especially when it could change the remainder of their life. There is no cure for either of these viruses, but medication is available to suppress the virus and reduce the risk of transmission.