What is the science behind COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a new infectious disease caused by the coronavirus strain SARS-CoV-2. Disease manifestations usually occur in the lungs of infected individuals, however, it has been reported that other parts of the body can be impacted as well. Upon infection, there is an asymptomatic period of variable length in which individuals can spread the virus without even knowing it. Some people may clear the virus without ever showing symptoms at all, while other individuals may start to experience some or all of the following symptoms: fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and loss of taste and/or smell. From here, individuals generally recover from the infection with or without supportive care, but there is a subset of infected individuals that may succumb to the illness and die. Although the science of SARS-CoV-2 is evolving every day, this virus is thought to be more infectious and deadly than the seasonal strain of flu, and more infectious but less deadly than the recently publicized Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus. There are currently no vaccines or therapeutics available to prevent or treat COVID-19.

How do clinical trials work?

Clinical trials are the process by which new vaccines and drugs are approved to be used in the general population to help prevent, diagnose, or treat a disease. They are undertaken by healthcare professionals (including researchers and medical doctors) and often fall into five stages. Normally, it takes years or even decades for a compound to pass through clinical trials, but in extraordinary cases (such as pandemics) this process can be sped up to provide medical care to those in need while maintaining the highest standard of safety as well as.

How do pandemics impact the clinical trials process?

When there is a serious, life-threatening situation where no medicine currently exists against a specific disease, such as during a pandemic, the clinical trial process may be expedited (or ‘Fast-Tracked’). This is generally only done with drugs that already show promise in combating the disease by having efficacy against related disorders. This process involves more regular meetings of the clinical trials governing body (ex. FDA) so that the drug can pass through stages faster, as well as the ability of the drug manufacturing company to submit sections of crucial documents as they are completed as opposed to once full stages of the trial are complete. Even in these circumstances, the clinical trial process is still extremely rigorous.

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BioRender Wall of Love

COVID-19 illustration by @skandshekharMD @NICHD_NIH , from a revolutionary online platform, @BioRender pic.twitter.com/q5NKJgqDhW
— Fady Hannah-Shmouni (@DrShmouni) April 21, 2020

Thanks so much @BioRender for the great Learning Hub about science posters and how to design them ! Definitely will join again next week ! #webinar #WorkFromHome #homeoffice #phdchat #academicchatter #scicomm
— Lena Steppe (@LenaSteppe) April 16, 2020

@BioRender is an amazing tool for creating one of the highest quality biology schematics and illustrations. Give it a shot! https://t.co/P1O8BzyA3o
— Ikjot Singh (@ikjot_sohal) March 26, 2020

⁦@BioRender⁩ is a brilliant website for graphical illustrations. They provide customised icons on request (below) helping researchers to widely disseminated their findings, all at very competitive rates for students. 👍🏼⁦@mmamas1973⁩ ⁦@hvanspall⁩ ⁩ pic.twitter.com/5CKePc9ctq
— Mohamed Mohamed (@dr_mosama) November 6, 2019

Thumbs up for @BioRender once again. This time nailed with a simple but neat Estrogen Receptor signaling in no time. In the past a couple of high throughput microscopes and liquid handling robots, huge thanks! Once you start there is no way back 😊 pic.twitter.com/lSP349pBdT
— jordi carreras-puigvert (@puigvert_j) October 28, 2019

Thanks to a colleague, I came across @BioRender a really fantastic tool for creating biologically relevant illustrations with a professional look, for papers or for powerpoint presentations. They have a free and a paid mode. Don’t have any CofI with them. https://t.co/rIxjPFuZw0 pic.twitter.com/3B5zCcJpnP
— Lluis Montoliu (@LluisMontoliu) October 16, 2019

Seriously, no more excuses for bad figures. Way to go @BioRender! pic.twitter.com/wuolJvNTOC
— Graeme Moffat (@graemedmoffat) September 17, 2019

Discovery of the month!!!! @BioRender. pic.twitter.com/WzcdB0XZ1A
— Alexandra Martínez-Roca. MD. (@AMartinezRocaMD) April 1, 2019

If you even need another reason to love @BioRender, here's a fun fact: I requested an anemone icon like a week ago and just got an email that this gorgeous little icon is now available. #cnidonerds rejoice! pic.twitter.com/wA05iwz8HA
— Dr. Rachel Wright (@its_RWright) February 15, 2019

Transmitir ciencia puede ser una tarea complicada, y al igual que en investigación requiere de creatividad y actualización. Esta genialidad se llama @BioRender y permite ilustrar fácilmente infinidad de procesos biológicos 🧬🔬🎨💻😍 https://t.co/nzo62JwV51
— Francisco Villena (@villena_francis) February 5, 2019

As much as I love spending my time at 500% zoom in PowerPoint when making diagrams, I won't miss it. This tool is AMAZING for creating aesthetically pleasing graphics! Bonus: an integrated platform for sharing your work with your team/lab! https://t.co/NuVvlNboBR
— Deborah Luessen (@djluessen) February 1, 2019

Exploring @BioRender this Polar Vortex morning, and seeing a lot of great #bugs, both insect and parasite!! And PDB incorporation??? WOW!!! 👩‍🔬🐝🧬🦟🔬👩‍🎨
— Allyson Ray (@AllysonMRay) January 31, 2019

This is the stuff dreams are made of... Check it out for #immunology #malaria and more. Thank you @biorender 🎉 #phdlife https://t.co/hwepTLBhmk
— Irene Tumwine (@IreneTumwine) January 31, 2019

This would have saved me so much time in grad school. Shoutout to @BioRender. Great team and great product! https://t.co/GrFf4XvTUm
— Russell Pollari (@russ_poll) January 30, 2019

Just found out about @BioRender and the #scicomm teacher-to-be scientist in me is loving it! pic.twitter.com/q8cGLh4H2i
— Kevin Squires (@KevinMSquires) December 18, 2018

Finally I could try @BioRender and I AM A HUGE FAN of it!!! Thanks to the creators. They saved my life 😍.
— J.C. López (@JuanCLopezBio) November 30, 2018

HOW did I not know about @BioRender before now!?!
This app is amazing, I managed to illustrate phagosome maturation with NO anger #PhDChat #phdforum #AcademicTwitter
— Signe E. Åsberg (@BananaFurby) October 23, 2018

@BioRender is amazing for figure making - they have pre-made icons which are great for genetics/proteins! All you have to do is drag and drop. You can easily get a free trial to try it out.

(This isn't sponsored - I just enjoyed my trial that much!)https://t.co/1fSc8JOOmF
— Farah (@this_is_farah) August 9, 2018

Update: You need this. We all need this. The request feature??? I am officially obsessed. @BioRender how do I appropriately cite you awesome people on every gd slide of my colloquium? pic.twitter.com/E6FAsTYJgV
— liz (@the_lizness) August 14, 2018

Saw a previous tweet from @VirusesImmunity about @BioRender and decided to try it. It is AWESOME and I highly recommend it for those who like schematics. Bonus: there is a great placenta image! pic.twitter.com/F0kMYOcPxh
— CCoyne (@scienceCC) July 23, 2018

Quick, fun poster preparation on #exosome engineering using @BioRender's drawing platform. Thanks to @VirusesImmunity for the recommendation! pic.twitter.com/OGfgB0vzer
— Amir Ferry (@amirferry) May 16, 2018

It was only time before this happens... Here is an illustration I made to accompany a sourdough recipe using a scientist friendly medium- @BioRender ! pic.twitter.com/edl98TCvyf
— Anna Andrusaite (@annaandrusaite) April 21, 2020

Massive thanks to @BioRender for providing such great templates for #sciart. Without them I would have never managed to write a basic info page on #bacteria.https://t.co/x9dqJqIDF8

Anything I forgot? pic.twitter.com/CHnDdz97sp
— Sarah Wettstadt (@DrBommel) April 12, 2020

Massive thank you to Eli + @biorender team for making a more accurate #NLRP3 #inflammasome icon - 11 sensors (w 9 LRRs) interact via central NACHT domains - PYD-PYD with ASC and ASC CARD-CARD with caspase-1. This complex is v. hard to represent in 2D but I think this is great! pic.twitter.com/LtipD9WtM3
— Dr Rebecca Coll (@Rebecca_Coll) March 25, 2020

I meant to add, this is our first paper using @BioRender for figure drawing! They even added some new DNA recombination intermediate structures for us (and everyone else)... https://t.co/BXUrJc3cEp
— 🔬Dr Andrew Deans🇦🇺 (@GenomeStability) November 2, 2019

I work with two awesome undergrads (both named Kathryn) who both used @BioRender schematics in their group meeting presentations!! So aesthetically pleasing 😊 pic.twitter.com/6ieFyyEYC3
— Erica Hui (@helloericahui) October 25, 2019

The only figure I contributed to this study was this graphical abstract. @BioRender made the SLR14 icon (within < 30 min after my request). I put this figure in 15 minutes after that. See, even a PI can draw thanks to @BioRender🤣 pic.twitter.com/vjkzhck6aQ
— Prof. Akiko Iwasaki (@VirusesImmunity) October 10, 2019

I am so impressed with @BioRender customer service. @Elijahahahaha got my request delivered in a week (I wanted an Atlantic salmon and a tilapia, no kidding), and then modified it to make is even better. Thank you again people-of-the-awesome-company.
— Remi Gratacap 🐟🔬 (@gratacapr) April 22, 2019

Big shout out to @BioRender - there is a whole graphics section for #plantsci people: https://t.co/C3RxFh1udL 🌿 I have been using @lucidpress & @lucidchart for presentations and @plantae_org illustrations - now a new whole era of designs begins! Handy tools for scientists pic.twitter.com/DuMwuhIF0T
— Juniper Kiss🌱👩‍🔬🇪🇺 (@GOESbyJuniper) March 22, 2019

Okay anyone who is into making their own diagrams needs to check out @BioRender!!

I just made these two cool graphics for my endocrine module to (more clearly) show the process of corticosteroid effects on gene transcription. pic.twitter.com/mAUnP0v87I
— Nicholas A. DeFilippo, CPhT (@ConnPharmIntern) February 10, 2019

Biologists! Check out this awesome software from @BioRender!!! You can even add your own icons! https://t.co/s96cVLJBZ2
— Shireen (@gypsyrapunzel) February 1, 2019

Everyone needs to check out @BioRender - they make science illustration easy! Beautiful, professional results - no drawing skills required! #Science #research #phdchat https://t.co/8UuGGIG3Nf pic.twitter.com/Yg7EWCwl6r
— Dr Gareth Nye (@ganye91) February 1, 2019

I’ve gotten so much positive feedback on my figures during presentations and it’s all thanks to #Biorender!
— Francesca Tomasi (@frantibiotic) January 31, 2019

I love @BioRender. Tried it a couple weeks ago by the suggestion of @VirusesImmunity. I made a schematic in 1 hr and it was less stressful and more impactful than what I could have made it ppt. Bravo, @ShizAoki! https://t.co/M57FfsN7gK
— Stephanie N. Langel (@stephanielangel) January 31, 2019

An excellent way to train oneself in the art of #SciComm. Explaining complicated subjects CLEARLY (@VirusImmunity- I’m looking at you!) in one graphical pic is not easy. Also good training for mentees for lab mtg. #LoveVirology #BioRender @BioRender https://t.co/uK9h3afL7c
— Benhur Lee🦠🧬🔬 (@VirusWhisperer) January 17, 2019

Thanks to @BioRender figures look great in our review Modulating T cell responses via autophagy: the intrinsic influence controlling the function of both antigen-presenting cells and T cells https://t.co/8r5ViIeFBr … Read it, tweet it - get its altmetric up. pic.twitter.com/gWrGhYxFOn
— Eliseo Castillo (@eliseo_fc) December 14, 2018

shoutout to @BioRender software, which we used to draw the initial figures... great software and better customer service. https://t.co/QG6M6MM3Q1
— Ryan Logan (@RyanWLogan) November 29, 2018

So I've been sharing some @BioRender invitations... pic.twitter.com/asNL6wnolh
— IF (@IF91) October 15, 2018

Have I mentioned lately how much I love @BioRender? Cause I’m obsessed with #biorender Look at this #westernblot ! 😍 #PhdChat pic.twitter.com/eQWiJ7UaKY
— liz (@the_lizness) September 10, 2018

#Scientists if you aren't using @BioRender, you NEED to start right now. I needed a stool icon for my #gutmicrobiome research and there are just no professional-looking options out there. Placed my request yesterday and 24 hrs later, this is what they came back with 😱 #impressed pic.twitter.com/JkOd9yLev7
— Dr. Ana Maria Porras (@AnaMaPorras) August 3, 2018

Thank you @BioRender for such a user-friendly program that makes beautiful illustrations. I love that I can go back through my version history and modify what I need based on my audience 🙌🏻 #gradschool #phdlife #scicomm #neuroscience pic.twitter.com/IjtLeynspu
— Alexandra Y (@ayaszems) June 26, 2018

Great graphic from ed board member @VirusesImmunity with @BioRender
That illustration tool is coming to your Trends reviews very soon 😁 https://t.co/x4aoaBnmZN
— Trends in Immunology (@TrendsImmuno) April 30, 2018

Need to put together a slide on COVID related things? @biorender has you covered!

Pretty cool how a free tool keeps adding relevant assets. pic.twitter.com/nYqHTO85Mv
— iandanforth (@iandanforth) April 17, 2020

Now indulging in drawing figures in BioRender 😍
A great app to create nice illustrations for my thesis and teaching materials 👍🏻#phdlife @BioRender pic.twitter.com/uOWPhzwz3F
— Winnie Lai (@winnie_laiwy) April 9, 2020

Just started using @BioRender for scientific illustrations, and this definetely made my day. 😮You can also ask for customized icons! https://t.co/QqDn6ExjX0 #scientificfigures @AcademicChatter #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #postdoclife pic.twitter.com/7P6SUJUGfs
— Carmen Falcone (@CarmenFalcone6) November 8, 2019

@BioRender is the BEST tool to make professional figures in the least amount of time.

I'm a digital design amateur (I mean, I still can't properly use the dropper tool), but you'd never know it by my figures. https://t.co/JsafTcg4SD
— PhD Diaries (@thoughtsofaphd) October 30, 2019

Just made an entire presentation using @BioRender and if you aren’t using it yet idk what is taking you so long because it is beautiful 😍
— Amanda Ruggieri (@anruggieri) October 18, 2019

I have been putting off making my amelogenesis cell stage figure for literally three years. Thanks to @BioRender, even with a free account, making it up only took an hour or so.

Extra appreciation to the site for having a pre-made secretion stage cell diagram! pic.twitter.com/vfjKZNlGZs
— 💀Chris Aris☕ (@ChrisJDAris) October 2, 2019

I am blocking the image on my poster - but shoutout to @BioRender! I used their wonderful platform to make a graphic for my abstract. pic.twitter.com/BSFz5rxtgZ
— Alex Taraboletti, PhD (@gulp_air) April 3, 2019

Special thanks to @BioRender for making my day! Excellent online software for creating beautiful illustrations for articles and presentations! And if you can't find what you're after, just make a request! Got my #aorticvalve figures today, couldn't be happier!
— Natalie Papanicolaou (@nataliepapanic) March 12, 2019

Made my first graphic using @BioRender and used it for group meeting - my lab said I sound like I make a commission if I get people to sign up but that’s just how much I love it!! #genius
— Virangika Wimalasena (@vkwimalasena) February 6, 2019

This is a great tool for quickly putting together high quality figures. Spent a couple of hours playing around today - you can choose from heaps of pre-drawn cartoons of cells, bugs, proteins etc. Check it out for your next lab meeting! @BioRender #PhDChat https://t.co/7CjUXUitB7
— Josh Newson (@joshnewson) February 1, 2019

Where have you been all of my life @BioRender! 😍#FirstIllustration #BioRender #Dilution #Microbiology #NCSUPickleProject #PickleProject #MB354NCSU #CURE #STEM #STEMChat #BiologicalIllustration #Teaching #TeachingTools #EdTech #Lab #ThisIsGoingToTakeUpAllOfMyFreeTime pic.twitter.com/mFgLGEIkAm
— Michael Taveirne (@ProfMicrobe) January 31, 2019

Already in love with the potentials of @BioRender platform!!! They have beautifully illustrated #Celegans !!!! Even brain atrophy ^_^ this is my "test" run, be prepared to get exhausted by my art work!! :D PS: it is FREEEEEEE! pic.twitter.com/MOHc0U0xNM
— Soudabeh ImanikiaPhD (@SImanikia) January 31, 2019

ayo im about to lose my goddamn MIND how didnt i know about this earlier??????????????????????????????????????????? yall out here savin lives and literally hours of my life 🤧🙏
— 💫 year of the 🐷 come thru💫 (@sephthedragon) January 30, 2019

.@BioRender makes #scicomm super easy! Took me 1h to draw our finding - in herpes infection, memory CD4 T cells respond to Ag in neural tissue, secrete IFNg, transiently loosen tight junction on endothelial cells, enabling antibody access to control virus. https://t.co/Uzrcb70sle pic.twitter.com/YAG3xvaTdP
— Akiko Iwasaki (@VirusesImmunity) January 16, 2019

Love @BioRender! We had our department buy full licenses for us (thanks to @ProfAmbrose)
— S_Lakdawala (@Lakdawala_Lab) December 13, 2018

Clear winner here is @BioRender - for a graphic design novice like me, super easy to create really cool illustrations and graphics! https://t.co/jRFdOiQ8Yr
— Sumanta Pal (@montypal) November 15, 2018

Proud to have presented my poster on mechanisms in cataract formation at @ComBio2018 today at @ICCSyd 😁🙌 Thanks to everyone who came to chat and ask me about it! If you’re interested in how I made the colourful schematics, check out @BioRender 👌 #phdchat #combio2018 #scicomm pic.twitter.com/T3WdxuylTD
— Daisy Shu (@EyeDaisyShu) September 25, 2018

I'm in love with @BioRender!! making models and figures is a fun business now! pic.twitter.com/ib4Xzx47xT
— DrFrancesca (@TeleseFrancesca) August 11, 2018

May be a little late to the party here but @BioRender is my new favourite thing. 😍
— Dr Fiona M Menzies (@Fmenzi) August 10, 2018

Where was this when I was in grad school?!?! Even for those who can slog through a PowerPoint figure, it’s a colossal waste of time. I’m going to check out @BioRender https://t.co/oJ70gq1WGr
— Tom Grys (@GrysClinMicro) June 10, 2018