{"id":40761,"date":"2020-06-25T10:47:47","date_gmt":"2020-06-25T15:47:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bemidjistate.edu\/news\/?p=40761"},"modified":"2020-08-13T10:57:57","modified_gmt":"2020-08-13T15:57:57","slug":"bemidji-state-university-scientists-explain-covid-19-viruses-and-vaccines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bemidjistate.edu\/news\/2020\/06\/25\/bemidji-state-university-scientists-explain-covid-19-viruses-and-vaccines\/","title":{"rendered":"Bemidji State University Scientists Explain COVID-19, Viruses and Vaccines"},"content":{"rendered":"

Members of the Bemidji State University College of Business, Mathematics and Sciences created informational videos to explain the novel coronavirus, how it operates and potential interventional strategies to inhibit it.
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\nDr. Holly LaFerriere, assistant professor of biology, explained the biology of viruses, specifically the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. This virus is classified as an obligate intracellular parasite, meaning it relies completely on the ability to infect a living host cell in order to create and spread more viruses. Viruses are not alive, as they can’t move, metabolize or replicate on their own.<\/p>\n

\"\"In a six minute video presentation, Dr. Marilyn Yoder, dean of the College of Business,  Mathematics and Sciences, describes the physical structure of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, explaining the three main components of a virus; the envelope, spike proteins and other viral membrane proteins. All of these components are created by the host cells, which in this case are humans infected with COVID-19.<\/p>\n

Additionally Dr. Mark Wallert, professor and chair of the biology \"\"department, presents how vaccines are developed and the potential of developing a treatment for COVID-19. A vaccine is a substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and drive an immune system response to protect the body, curing a host of the infection.<\/p>\n

Contact<\/h5>\n