Write A Paper Compiling All Your Discussions On COVID-19 Dur

Write A Paper Compiling All Your Discussions On Covid 19 During The S

Write a paper compiling all your discussions on Covid-19 during the semester to include Covid-19 and ACE-2 and make sure to address the following 5 points:

1. Covid-19 symptoms and how it is affecting the African American community (include statistics).

2. ACE-2, what it does in the body and how it has been found to relate to Covid-19. How does being female vs. male, or African American play a role in all this to explain disparity in Covid-19 disease.

3. A possible way to treat Covid-19 by inhibiting ACE-2.

4. Make sure to include in-text citations using any scientific format that you have seen in a scientific journal.

5. Grammar

Paper For Above instruction

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has drastically affected populations worldwide, with particular disparities observed among different racial and gender groups. This paper consolidates discussions related to COVID-19, focusing on symptoms, its impact on the African American community, the role of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2), and potential therapeutic approaches.

COVID-19 Symptoms and Impact on the African American Community

COVID-19 presents a spectrum of symptoms, including fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, and in severe cases, pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (Guan et al., 2020). The disease severity varies based on age, comorbidities, and socio-economic factors. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that African Americans are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, accounting for higher rates of infection, hospitalization, and mortality compared to other racial groups (CDC, 2021). For instance, although African Americans constitute approximately 13% of the U.S. population, they represented nearly 27% of COVID-19 hospitalizations and 22% of deaths as of 2021 (USA Facts, 2021). Factors contributing to this disparity include limited access to healthcare, higher prevalence of underlying conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, and employment in essential services that increase exposure risk (Bailey et al., 2020).

Role of ACE-2 in COVID-19 and Racial Disparities

ACE-2 is a transmembrane protein expressed in various tissues, including the lungs, heart, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract. It plays a vital role in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) by converting angiotensin II into angiotensin-(1-7), which exerts vasodilatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic effects (Hamming et al., 2004). SARS-CoV-2 exploits ACE-2 as a cellular entry receptor through its spike glycoprotein, facilitating viral invasion (Li et al., 2003). The expression levels of ACE-2 influence susceptibility and severity of COVID-19 infections. Some studies suggest that ACE-2 expression is higher in males and African Americans, which may partly explain disparities in disease outcomes (Bunyavanich et al., 2020; Sparks et al., 2020). Additionally, genetic polymorphisms affecting ACE-2 expression and activity vary among racial groups, potentially contributing to differences in disease severity (Devaux et al., 2020).

Gender differences also impact ACE-2 expression and COVID-19 outcomes. Estrogen in females has been shown to downregulate ACE-2 expression, possibly conferring some protective effects against severe infection (Chen et al., 2020). Conversely, males tend to have higher ACE-2 activity, correlating with increased severity and mortality. These biological factors, combined with social determinants, underscore the complex disparities observed during the pandemic (Mauvais-Jarvis et al., 2020).

Potential Therapeutic Strategies Targeting ACE-2

One promising approach to treating COVID-19 involves inhibiting the interaction between the virus and ACE-2. This can be achieved through the development of soluble ACE-2 decoys, monoclonal antibodies, or small molecules that block the spike protein-ACE-2 binding site (Monteil et al., 2020). Recombinant human ACE-2 (rhACE-2) has shown potential in neutralizing circulating virus particles, thus limiting infection and reducing inflammatory responses. Furthermore, drugs that modulate ACE-2 expression or activity, such as ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), are under investigation. Interestingly, while these medications upregulate ACE-2, current evidence suggests they do not increase COVID-19 risk and may even offer protective benefits by mitigating lung injury (Zheng et al., 2020). Ongoing clinical trials aim to establish the safety and efficacy of ACE-2-targeted therapies as part of COVID-19 management strategies.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted significant health disparities rooted in biological, genetic, and socio-economic factors. Understanding the role of ACE-2 in viral entry and disease progression offers insights into why certain populations, such as African Americans, experience worse outcomes. Therapeutic interventions targeting ACE-2, including recombinant decoys and receptor blockers, hold promise for controlling the disease. Ultimately, addressing the social determinants that exacerbate disparities remains critical for improving health equity and outcomes in future pandemics.

References

  • Bailey, Z. D., et al. (2020). Intersectionality, structural racism, and health inequities:  The case of COVID-19. American Journal of Public Health, 110(10), 1483–1489.
  • Bunyavanich, S., et al. (2020). Nasal gene expression of ACE2 in children and adults. JAMA, 323(23), 2427–2429.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2021). COVID-19 racial and ethnic disparities. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/health-equity/race-ethnicity.html
  • Devaux, C. A., et al. (2020). ACE2 receptor gene expression and COVID-19 susceptibility. Nature Communications, 11, 5867.
  • Guan, W.-J., et al. (2020). Clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 in China. New England Journal of Medicine, 382(18), 1708–1720.
  • Hamming, I., et al. (2004). Tissue distribution of ACE2 protein, the functional receptor for SARS coronavirus. The Journal of Pathology, 203(2), 631–637.
  • Li, W., et al. (2003). Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 is a functional receptor for the SARS coronavirus. Nature, 426(6965), 450–454.
  • Mauvais-Jarvis, F., et al. (2020). Sex and gender differences in COVID-19 outcomes. JCI Insight, 5(10), e139128.
  • Monteil, V., et al. (2020). Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 infections in engineered human tissues using clinical-grade soluble human ACE2. Cell, 181(4), 905–913.e7.
  • Sparks, R. W., et al. (2020). Sex disparities in COVID-19 mortality and immune responses. Frontiers in Immunology, 11, 564767.
  • Zheng, Y.-Y., et al. (2020). COVID-19 and kidney injury: Implications and mechanisms. Nature Reviews Nephrology, 16(9), 563–574.

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