The Project: Write up a case scenario addressing the following hypothetical situation described below:
Hypothetical Situation:
A virus X of unknown origin suddenly appeared to be spreading in a certain area. The numbers of infected individuals are increasing daily and researchers are working on understanding the genomics of the virus. Research laboratories are researching the nature of this infectious virus and noted that it has a relatively high mutation rate. In this scenario, you are working at a molecular diagnostic company wanting to develop diagnostic tests to facilitate contact tracing and infectious disease spread monitoring.
As the outbreak continued, patients showed vast variation in the establishment of the infection and the development of symptoms. Some patients where asymptomatic (showing no symptoms but tested positive for viral infection), whereas other infected patients presented severe symptoms that may lead to several complications including death. Studies showed that individuals who have a specific genotype (a single autosomal variant that is dominant) suffer from severe to terminal symptoms if the individual is infected by the virus. Early detection of the viral infection is very important for patients with the aforementioned genotype to significantly decrease the probability of lethality.
The Task:
Write up a case scenario containing the following elements:
Identify at least three different technologies (from sample preparation to results) that could do the intended job of viral detection. Briefly describe those technologies (need supporting references) in terms of how they can perform the necessary functions to do the detection, and then state the pros and cons for that technology for the viral detection task.
Select the technology which best supports this application and explain why it is the best of the three (be sure to examine other parameters outside of the technical capability, such as cost, time to result, etc.) that could serve for a low-resource area as well as high-resource area markets. Identify the difference of use of the technology based on the area.
Keeping in mind the presence of the mentioned genotype, what technology can be used to identify its presence? Put together a criteria/protocol/process flow for testing people for the virus and the genotype in an efficient and effective manner.
Identify a difficulty/challenge diagnostic companies might face in such a scenario and propose suitable solutions.
At the end of your paper, summarize all the tasks as a one-page protocol in a user-friendly format. (Extra points for creativity).
Extra Credit This criterion is intended to assess ability to synthesize and clearly display/describe a testing protocol
within one page that is user-friendly. The protocol does not have to have exact amounts of reagents or specific
consumables or equipment but rather be able to provide a easy to follow (visual) depiction of the assay process.
If you have overlapping technologies over the tasks do not re-explain the technology, only emphasize on its role for the specific new task. This will include a protocol for verification and validation of the test with anticipate outcomes, which denote success. References need to be included.
This paper should be 7-12 pages long (NOT including reference list and title page) using the APA style (double-spaced) format. The paper should have the following sections: Title Page, Introduction, Results, Discussion, Protocol, and Reference List. Embedded in these sections are the deliverables for the above tasks. Having figures and/or tables is encouraged but each one should not take up more than a quarter of a page for a figure or half a page for a table.
The paper will have the following structure with the questions that need to be addressed in that particular section of the paper:
Cover page (not included in page count) should state the following: Title of paper
Your name
Course
Term
Date submitted
Introduction
Results
Protocol
Discussion
Reference list (not included in page count) o This should be formatted according to APA standards in alphabetical order based on the last name of author or the source/title of an online reference.
ATTENTION:
1. Please note that this will account for 25% (250 points) of the total points (1000 points) for this course.
2. The paper must follow APA formatting guidelines (i.e., it must be double-spaced) for the body of the paper, references, in-text citations, and cover page as described at https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/. APA format also applies to references and in-text citations. This will be strictly adhered to, otherwise points will be deducted for non-conformance. Font should be Times New Roman 12 or Arial 11.
3. Paper should have the aforementioned sections labelled. Pagination and a short running title (in the header or footer) should also be included.
4. Figures and tables are encouraged and can be integrated within the paper (insertion of oversized figures and tables to minimize the amount of text will be penalized).
5. The uploaded paper must be submitted in a MS Word format.
6. For references used for the assignment, there should be more journal articles than website references.