This project was associated with the BIO 203 course, Introduction to Cell Biology. Students worked in teams to address multiple aspects of how SARS-CoV-2 causes infections in various body systems. Our group project focused on how the COVID-19 infection impacts the lungs, specifically the lung epithelium and oxygen saturation levels. We examined chronologically how a person who is COVID-19 positive would experience the infection. The stages of infection include: Pre-infected phase, diseased phase, recovery phase and the post recovery phase. We gathered information from published studies on COVID-19. Each group member researched a specific period of infection, and the effects on lung epithelia that resulted in low oxygen saturation levels in the bloodstream. An overarching goal of the project was to understand disease onset and progression, and to then be able to explain our findings to a general audience of college students, to raise awareness about the significance of the illness and chronic problems it causes in hopes that precautions will be used to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.
There are several short term and long term effects that the virus can have on a patient’s lung. Among entry of the virus, the lungs become inflamed as an immediate immune response, causing the build up of mucus and pus. This makes the diffusion of oxygen into the bloodstream and capillaries much more difficult, resulting in low blood-oxygen levels in the body. There are also some long term effects that infection can have on the lungs, including inflammatory tissue damage, longer gas exchange times, and in some cases respiratory failure.
The group project experience has been relevant for our intended careers because most group members, if not all, are interested in pursuing jobs in the medical realm after they graduate. Each group member was able to increase their knowledge in the context of a medically relevant application.
Authors: Daryn Strub, Andrew Branson, Glenn Friedman, Brady Henderson, Jonas Keller, and Jimmy Yu
Faculty Advisor: Joyce Fernandes, Biology
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