How Coronavirus enters lungs to cause cough and breathing problems? Why vulnerability with existing diseases? How can we prevent symptoms? Mechanism of other organ infection? Why kidneys fail? These questions intrigued me to explore this topic for my application to the #breakthroughjuniorchallenge.
I present the pathogenesis of COVID 19 through a retro style video game. I hope this video ignites the curiosity in you as well and I wish the other participants all the very best!
Due to time constraints, I was forced to omit the below mentioned prominent but important concepts from this video.
1) Detailed tensegrity mechanism of the lungs
2) Diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide from a Surface Area: Volume ratio perspective
3) Pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects of vitamin-D and its relation to COVID-19
4) Effect of aging on extracellular matrix and association to COVID-19
5) Gender difference of extracellular matrix and connection to COVID-19
6) Details of “Mechanotransduction in stem cells” research
These animations were created using Macromedia Flash and Adobe Creative Cloud’s Illustrator, After Effects, Premiere Pro, Media Encoder, and Photoshop. The sound effects were taken from www.freesound.org and the voice was recorded and edited using Audacity.
References with exact journal citation details can be viewed via this link.
References hyperlinks:
1) CD147 & COVID-19
2) Other receptor pathways & COVID-19
3) Lung micromechanics
4) CD147 increases Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP 2 & MMP9)
expression
5) CD147 increases thrombosis via MMPs
6) Matrix Metalloproteinases 2 & 9 target collagen type IV
7) Collagen IV distribution in lungs
8) Collagen type IV in basement membranes
9) Thickened basement membranes in comorbidities
10) Increased expression of MMP2 and MMP 9 in comorbidities
11) Mechanotransduction & cell differentiation
12) CD147 and Malaria
13) MMP activity with aging
14) Hydroxychloroquine and COVID-19
15) Vitamin D, inflammation and COVID-19
16) Gender and effect of CD147
End of references.
Along the course of putting this together, I’ve learned new skills, gained invaluable knowledge, and experienced the reward of perseverance. I would like to give a hearty mention of my parents for always being supportive and a special thanks to my mentor, who has stayed up through endless nights helping me.
