covid-19

Question 1

how do lateral flows work

Answer 1

1. antigens are immobilized on a strip of suitable matrix.
2. Sample is applied at one end of the strips and if antibodies are present, they will diffuse along the strip until they stop. This means the antigen is immobilized
3. Antibodies specific for the antigen bind and remain at the site of the antigen and are visualized by a labelled detection antibody

Question 2

how does qPCR work

Answer 2

1. Healthcare workers collect samples
2. The PCR is converted from one single stranded RNA to double stranded DNA by reverse transcription.
3. The DNA strand templates are then separated
4. Primers are attached to each end of the stands, they are designed to only connect to the viral DNA. So only viral DNA is replicated. Fluorescent dyes attach to the DNA providing a marker for successful replication.
5. Cycle is repeated 20-30 times to create DNA copies corresponding to viral covid RNA

Question 3

what antibody does an antibody test look for

Answer 3

IgM antibodies which happen in early infection and igG antibodies which show up much later about 14 days after symptoms.

Question 4

what is sotroviamb treatment

Answer 4

neutralising monoclonal antibodies that help prevent reinfection

Question 5

what is molnupiravir

Answer 5

antiviral medicine that inhibits the viral replication

Question 6

what is hegemonic masculinity

Answer 6

refers to the idea to being the ideal man, some see masks as a weakness

Question 7

what are the four types of vaccine used for treatment of covid

Answer 7

1. inactivated or weakened virus vaccine
2. protein-based
3. viral vector vaccine
4. RNA and DNA