My name is Minerva A. Garcia
I am currently the Associate Director Microbiology at Jacobi Med. Center, NYC Health & Hospitals Corp.
I am your Microbiologist now again, Microbiology with the microbes welcomes you in and so does poetry, with creative lines.
In today’s show, I’ll be talking aboutthe following topics
- Issues affecting our society unfairly: Asian being attacked
2. Terms worth mentioning
3. Retrovirus Can Turn Infectious for Pathogenicity
4. SARS Viruses, Including COVID-19 & Variants Newer Vaccines on its way, that’s a wow!
5. CoVid-19/Variant Strains Update: National & International News
So…. There it…. Goes an Analogy of a poem discussion:
We know that in today’s world SARS-CoV-2 has changed our prospective and also our ways of thinking. We have become aware of how destructive a new virus could be. This has allowed all of us to re-evaluate how we do business, how children learn, how medicine is practiced, example Tele Med, Skype, many are force to seek psychotherapy by virtually utilizing Zoom, a technology now becoming too familiar to us all. That’s a wow! You can never under estimate the human potential.
We also know that this Covid-19 virus, has taken lives beyond our comprehension. Many families have been wiped away, friends have witnessed their neighbors gone due to this crisis. Husbands, wives’ left widow and children left orphaned. This is all too sad. We can all imagined the adaption required and how this can have an emotional toll on a person’s wellbeing. That is why it is important to give a hand to anyone, you might notice requires assistance. Try to help in whichever capacity you can. Could be a small act, by giving someone groceries and/or say “hello, you need anything I can help you? “We have got to check on our neighbors and friends. Keep your families close via a phone call.
Just a gesture goes a long way. We need to start thinking differently if we are to survive and strive as a country, and move on. We are all learning of many negative effects that causes a ripple effects in our worlds, we got to change that. We have to change negative into positives. We got to care for one another. We have got to stop the hate. We have to focus on what is important. We got to bring back our faith, see the good in people, appreciate what we have, learn to laugh abundantly from the insides, search for peace, give a hand to your fellowman, respect our environment, our ecosystems, think of what we can all contribute to saving our planet, and so tomorrow we can appreciate a more pleasant world. Plant a seed with love, a tiny tree, a plant, crops, a flower and see it grow. Open up your heart to the unknowns, don’t be afraid to explore this earth beauty. Take the time to appreciate a rainbow. Look, when you see one, take notice of its endless beauty and its colors. There’s a reason, it is not there for long. Don’t miss out. With this in mind, is where poetry comes and I like to bring you all in, into my world of Microbiology, where microbes are discussed and poetry expressed. In support of everyone trying to see a better world, join a cooperative effort for love and peace. Join this club! I like to bring to you this poem, which is also the title of book, The Journey of a Rainbow: My Poetic journal Mind Views”. With this in mind, I like to read you my poem titled: The Journey of a Rainbow.
The Journey of a Rainbow
There rainbows all our lives
They appear in different colors
We may not see them with our naked eyes
We may not know it exists
This rainbow is God. He’s all around us
His message is love; his colors are the heart and a breath
As confusion persists upon this Earth
He surrounds us with love
We must learn to walk away from what is not
The key is master your inner strengths-that is Divine
Just let 7all peace within prevail
Silence is the language of love
Whisper unto your friends there might be just one
It’s okay if you’ve none
It’s better no company than a bad one
Believe deep within, for your guided by spiritual energies
Nothing is hidden for clouds disappearing…
Left are the breezes in your deep and responsive heart
All the grays disappeared as love as filled all the gaps-
Perhaps laughter’s of an immense as rains have come, erased all your pains
The sun once again shines and a rainbow stands journeying home
Filling all your hearts with more love
Truly–
Explain what is love?
So, let’s get started!
- Issues affecting our society unfairly: Asian being attacked
Who can be expressed as Asian Americans? Asian Americans are Americans of Asian ancestry. Historically described all indigenous peoples Asia. “Asian” by USA Census Bureau, excludes people with ethnic origins in certain parts of Asia, such as West Asia, who are now categorized as Middle Eastern Americans.
With this in mind, in the census noted as “Asian”, meaning “Chinese, Indian, Filipino, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Korean, Japanese, Malaysian, etc. We should all learn and respect this lineage of Asians’ groups.
We know today, that in 2018, Asian Americans comprised 5.4% USA population; including multiracial Asian Americans. It was noted an off increased 6.5%. In 2019, there were 22.9 million Asian Americans. Where, Chinese, Indian, and Filipino Americans make up Asian the largest group of Asian American population with 5 million. These numbers equal 1.5% and 1.2% of the total US population.
We should know that, these migrants from Asia have been in parts of the contemporary United States since the 17th century, so guess what, they’re not new groups, they been here for a long time, therefore, they are here to stay.
We have got to separate racism from facts. Asian Americans are not responsible for CoVid-19 crisis here in the United and/or abroad. They’re all innocent. This virus derived from Wuhan, China in Dec 2019 and these Asian Americans were in American soils. These rumors are baseless. We got to stop racism, discriminatory acts and being bullies toward these Asian-Americans if we’re to grow a stronger American in a peaceful manner. We got to stop the hates. Hatreds is a bad seed.
We all know that Covid-19 pandemics has presented many challenges, and this shouldn’t be another. Hate crimes can happened anywhere, anytime, with any race, but attacking innocent by standers because of their looks, is truly horrific, disgraceful and distasteful. Look, people start to look for some to blame, it has been written that, influenza epidemic “Spanish flu” occurred back in 1918—originated in US Army base, Kansas — when immigrants and Native Americans were baselessly blamed for spreading the disease in western US cities. To learn of data that in 2020, about 3,795 complaints since last year violating this Asian groups are sad news. We got to change this and respect this culture. Today, they all living in fear from being attack verbally and physically. Know, we’re Americans, we are better than that.
Let’s step back and re-evaluate this situation of hate crimes happening to this group of Americans. We are better than that, we are Americans. We all got to start thinking differently and show respect. We’re destroying ourselves and their culture. WHY, I may ask? We’re not like that, we are better than that! We’re Americans, we got to show love. If we attack an Asian American, we attack a fellowman. We eat in their restaurants, we go to their beauty salons, and see them throughout our city’s, in the streets, in the trains. etc. We must let them be…We must all learned to let go and act gracefully, if we are to be at peace with one another.
- Terms worth mentioning
Asymptomatic, a person shows no sign of a disease.
Symptomatic, a person shows sign of a disease.
Infectious diseases, disorders caused by organisms, bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites, etc. Pandemic, world wide spread of new disease, these viruses that emerged from animal to humans are called term “ZOONOTIC”. This means, that animals that carry the virus such as, bats bite another, for example chicken. Then the chicken as poultry, as a delicatessen was uncooked, leaving the virus alive. Now, people eat the chicken, become infected and therefore contract the virus. This is why is term “ZOONOTIC”. Zoo, is where we keep animals. Look at it, as animal-related disease. This is what we have seen with CoVid-19 transmission. The virus has jumped from animal to human.
3.Retrovirus Can Turn Infectious for Pathogenicity
We know that virus will do what loves most, infect a host cell, for survival, in order to strive producing more viral particles. Some viruses are extremely efficient at penetrating host cells and taking over their machinery to turn out more viruses, infect more cells and continue the process.
IP6, is a small molecule that is critical to stabilizing this protein shell. It where an infected cell mature virus particle that can infecting another cell, where a “If the protective shell is not stable, the genetic info of the virus released prematurely and destroyed, Whereas, if stable the genome can’t exit, becoming useless,” Previous work showed that IP6 is involved in the assembly of HIV. This is an important. The capsid proteins and the IP6 molecules are the screws. It’s like having all the tools required to build an instrument. Noticed by Asst Professor Florian Schur.
Scientist have to start thinking differently to capture the true factory of their biology and be able to think like one destructive virus. Virus is destructive. It has been revealed in Nature Communications that a virus called sarcoma virus, which infects poultry. Scientist have identified a small molecule that’s involved in retrovirus assembly. Retrovirus in the same family as HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Through an, cryo-electron tomography, as they were able to visualized the variations of the capsid shapes. Virus change the shape of its capsid & adapting to it?” These differences may change the pathogenicity of a virus, this we know. “Whatever happens, happens for a reason”.
I can conclude from learning this update, that Retrovirus can turn Infectious for Pathogenicity
4. SARS Viruses, Including COVID-19 & Variants Newer Vaccines on its way
SARS Viruses, including COVID-19 & Variants Newer Vaccines on its way, are the latest update. This another great news. As we know, viruses do what they like to most, cause disease by invading our bodies cells, tissues and organs. Viruses also mutate in order to strive and survive. The pandemic virus SARS-CoV-2 has changed the world in devastating ways, taking hundreds of thousands of lives, and new variants of the virus are continuing to emerge. The race is on to get as many people vaccinated as possible in order to reduce the number of infections and illnesses, which can also limit the chances the virus has to mutate even more.
It is worth mentioning that vaccine, that Duke researchers used a nanoparticle that carries a part of the coronavirus spike protein. As they further state that these vaccines have been successful in primates, the researchers are hopeful that it will be useful to people as well.
Researchers found a place in that binding domain that is present on multiple coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2 and variants, and bat viruses related to SARS. This portion of the binding domain makes it susceptible to cross-neutralizing antibodies, so the researchers created a nanoparticle that contained that portion. The nanoparticle vaccine to boost and stimulates the body’s immune response.
SUMMARY: Researchers have made multiple copies of a small part of the coronavirus to make the body’s immune system respond to it in a heightened way, was stated “which increased body’s ability to inhibit the virus from causing infection, targets this cross-reactive site of vulnerability on the spike protein more frequently. This is a wow!
It is believed, this vaccine is effective against SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2 and at least four of its common variants, plus additional animal coronaviruses.” The nanoparticle vaccine stopped 100% COVID-19 infections in monkeys. This vaccine also stimulated the release of higher levels of neutralizing antibodies compared to current vaccine options or natural human infection.
“There have been three coronavirus epidemics in the past 20 years, so there is a need to develop effective vaccines that can target these pathogens prior to the next pandemic,” Haynes said. “This work represents a platform that could prevent, rapidly temper, or extinguish a pandemic.” Sources provided by : Duke University, Nature. This is a wow, from these scientists!
We know today, that diseases come and go… these diseases have caused illnesses in many places throughout the world. It is worth mentioning that in these periods, we have witnessed, in
2001-2002–West Nile Virus. The first account of the West Nile Virus in U.S, NYC … I can give credit to Dr. Deborah Asnis who doscovered Lyme Disease, mosquitoes transmitted. She worked at Flushing Hospital Medical Center.
2001-Anthrax after 9/11, as letters contaminated with white powder containing anthrax spores
2003 – SARS-CoV. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, a viral respiratory illness.
2006 – Mumps. The U.S. saw multi-state outbreaks of mumps reporting more than 6,500 cases in
1952, 2013-2015 Chikungunya, is a mosquito-borne viral disease . The disease was first recognized in 1952 during an outbreak in southern Tanzania. Chikungunya, genus Alphavirus, which is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes – including Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Symptoms appear between 4-7 days being bitten by infected mosquito accompanied by: High fever (40°C/ 104°F), Joint/muscle pain (lower back, ankle, knees, wrists, etc.), joint swelling, rash, headache, nausea and fatigue. Outbreaks have occurred in countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Indian Pacific Oceans and in the Caribbean’s.
Since, people spend more time outside cleaning up after a hurricane or flood, they are more likely to be bitten by nuisance mosquitoes. They reproduce depositing their larvae in loose waters. That’s is why, you should never have pool of water not running in any area., because is a war to stop them from reproducing. Reapply insect repellent as directed. How to stop this mosquito fast, do spray repellent on the skin. If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent, secondly.
SARS-CoV – Cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, viral respiratory illness, first emerged in 2002-2003 in China. The highly infectious virus quickly spread to 37 countries globally. Before it was contained in 2003, the virus had infected 8,098 people and killed 774. SARS symptoms included fever, chills, and body aches and usually progressed to pneumonia. No cases of SARS have been reported since 2004, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2012, the United States declared SARS-CoV a select agent – meaning it is capable of posing a severe threat to public health and safety.
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses common in animals, including camels and bats. Most human coronaviruses, such as the common cold, typically cause mild-to-moderate illness, but some are capable of causing severe disease.
MERS-CoV – The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus first emerged in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and has caused severe illness in people in more than 26 countries. The virus is thought to have emerged from camels, but it acquired the ability to be transmitted from human to human. Symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath, often leading to pneumonia. About 35% of people infected with MERS died, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Only two U.S. patients ever tested positive for MERS-CoV – infected healthcare workers in 2014 who had traveled to the United States from Saudi Arabia.
1976 Ebola virus, was first described in 1976 near the Ebola River now Democratic Republic of the Congo. The virus has emerged periodically infecting people in several African countries.
5. CoVid-19/Variant Strains Update: National & International News
What this means? What we know today
U.S. Covid-19 death has reached 600,012, marking the largest number of Covid-19 deaths from a single country, where 15% of the 3.8 million worldwide deaths officially attributed to Covid-19. In comparison means, is more than American soldiers killed in action during the Vietnam War, WWI and WW II combined. This tells you how deadly this virus really is. This significant number of Americans who died of cancer in 2019. Currently, 375 Covid-19 deaths per day, compared with around 3,000 per day in January 2021. As per CDC update. Hispanics and African Americans are among the lowest in reaching vaccination. All come out get vaccinated in order to control this pandemic.
Delta variant, formally known as B.1.617.2 and first detected in India, now appears to be significantly more transmissible than previous versions of the coronavirus, where the variant 90% of new cases in UK. In USA, 10% of new cases, doubling in prevalence about every two weeks, as per Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former U.S. FDA chief.
The three confirmed variants in circulation are:
- Alpha (B.1.1.7) b)
- Delta (B.1.617.2)
- Kappa(B.1.617.1)
Delta, is predominant variant circulation in Nepal Nepal Variant’ of Covid-19. It evolved from Indian variant (Delta), now Britain, another parts world.
It was stated by Dr. Mike Gent, Covid incident Director, linking Nepal to Delta (VOC-21APR-02) with the additional mutation K417N.
“This variant is present in multiple countries including a small number of cases UK, detected through rapid testing & whole genome sequencing, investigating this K417N.
“The UK used genomics, epidemiology and virology capacity to monitor the virus as it naturally evolves, using appropriate public health measures”
What is a Covid variant and should we be worried? Since, we know that viruses normally create variants in order to make copies of themselves. When a copy is not completely the same, a new strain is created, this we do know. Moving on, to find the closest and nearest vaccine location type on any link: vaccine.gov. Currently, you can now just walk-in. you don’t have to make an appointment in most states.
Info: Pregnant woman should get vaccinated, know that the vaccine will not hurt their unborn fetus. The fetus is protected, because is away from harms away, in a bubble. Look at this manner.
However, if a woman is pregnant and she gets Covid-19, she will be putting herself at risk by not getting vaccinated. If everyone gets vaccinated, it would really be the ultimate WHO!
We are seeing incentive from state government officials in order to get the public involved and get word out to participate in this vaccination process.
VACCINE TRACKER: The United States will likely donate 500 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccines to countries around the world in need, 1 billion vaccine COVID doses distributed through COVAX, an international initiative for sharing COVID-19 vaccines.. About 43.9% of Americans have been completely vaccinated. That’s a wow!
EXCITING NEWS & PERSONAL NEWS:
We know that ourocean, is one continuous body of water. With this in mind, oceanographers have divided our four principal areas: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and ArcticOceans. The Atlantic, Indian, and PacificOceans merge into icy waters around Antarctica. Some oceanographers define this as a fifthocean, most commonly called the SouthernOcean, the 5th ocean is now The South ocean. That’s a Wow!
The movie, In the Heights starring Anthony Ramos, Marc Anthony and Lin-Manuel Miranda, out June 10, 2021. All come out and give us your feetback buy going to the theaters … I have a small part in the pool. That’s a Wow!
A shout goes out to my beautiful Executive Producer Mary Lou, who has made this podcast possible.
Now, I conclude this show from the microbial world. Thank you for having me. To my lovely audience, thank you for tuning in and listening. This is Minerva A. Garcia, your Microbiologist
OPINION DISCLAIMER:
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely my own and my guests, and not of any institutions or corporation
Footnote Asymptomatic, a person shows no sign of a disease, example a person may be infectious of CoVid-19, however has no signs of the virus. This person may be a super spreader without knowing.
Symptomatic, a person shows sign of a disease, example a person may be infectious of CoVid-19, and is indicating signs of the virus. Where, they will be follow-up by clinicians and quarantine at home to prevent spreading the virus.
Infectious diseases, are disorders caused by organisms, bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites. Many organisms live in and on our bodies. They’re normally harmless or even helpful. But under certain conditions, some organisms may cause disease. Some infectious diseases can be passed from person to person, as CoVid-19. Some are transmitted by insects or other animals. They are also, classified as physician specializing in this area.
Pandemic, world wide spread of new disease, example an influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges and spreads around the world such as Covid-19, originated from animal influenza virus. Immunity non-existence, because everyone becomes vulnerable to the disease.I have a small part in the swimming pool. You can’t see me, because you could see the majot actors. But, it was great being there. I took pictures with Anthony Ramos and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Thank Lin-Manuel Miranda for having me there.
ZOONOTIC
These viruses that emerged from animal to humans are called term “ZOONOTIC”. This means, that animals that carry the virus such as, bats bite another, for example chicken. Then the chicken as poultry, as a delicatessen was uncooked, leaving the virus alive. Now, people eat the chicken, become infected and therefore contract the virus. This is why is term “ZOONOTIC”. Zoo, is where we keep animals. Look at it, as animal-related disease. This is what we have seen with CoVid-19 transmission. The virus has jumped from animal to human.
Endemic– A constant presence and/or usual prevalence of a disease or infection within a geographic area.
Epidemic– A sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease—more than what’s typically expected for the population in that area. Are the diseases which are infectious and contagious.
Epidemiologist, when disease outbreaks or other threats occurs, an epidemiologist are these professionals stepping in the scene to investigate issues of a disease such as we’ve have seen now with CoVid-19. Epidemiologist steps in to investigate the disease.