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As a professor in 甜瓜视频app鈥檚 Department of Biology who specializes in immunology and infectious diseases, Mack Powell finds the COVID-19 pandemic particularly interesting.

The virus has rapidly spread across the world, shutting down many countries along the way, while killing thousands in the process.

鈥淚t鈥檚 coming into a non-immune population,鈥� Powell said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking at primary infections from the get-go. Until there鈥檚 a vaccine, the only way to be immune to it is to get it. That鈥檚 interesting in and of itself.鈥�

With most of the country practicing social distancing, several communities have issued stay-at-home orders in hopes of curtailing the spread of the virus. Meanwhile, scientists are scrambling to find a vaccine for COVID-19. How quickly that is developed remains to be seen.

Powell said one vaccine is already under clinical trials, which is a precursor to regulatory approval. Powell said with that vaccine, scientists used the RNA from the virus rather than a protein, which provides the basis for most vaccines.

Typically, before beginning clinical trials, scientists will conduct testing involving animals to see if there鈥檚 any indication that the vaccine is protective. Powell said he was unsure if this would happen with COVID-19.

Clinical trials usually take place in three stages. The first phase typically involves a dozen or more healthy volunteers who are used by researchers to monitor the vaccine for safety, checking for adverse side effects. Phase 2 involves a few hundred people to gauge the effectiveness of the vaccine, while phase 3 does the same with a few thousand people.

鈥淭here are big problems always with human vaccine. If you鈥檙e doing an animal study, you鈥檇 vaccinate them, wait a while and then infect them,鈥� Powell said. 鈥淥bviously, you can鈥檛 do that with humans, which is why the trials have to be so widespread. It鈥檚 a time-consuming process. I don鈥檛 think anybody wants to shortcut the safety issues. It鈥檚 just going to take a while. Obviously, they鈥檙e going to fast-track it as best they can.鈥�

Prior to WCU鈥檚 extended spring break and shifting of its classes to online learning, Powell would give coronavirus updates to his 鈥淐ellular and Molecular Immunology鈥� class. He said he plans to further implement the virus into future lessons.

Powell does have advice for those who have been forced to remain at home. 鈥淚n situations like this, I know many people often feel helpless, like 鈥榃hat can I do to help out?鈥� 鈥� Powell said. 鈥淭he biggest thing you can do is nothing. When you stay at home and sit on your couch, you are helping out. I wish people could take a positive attitude about the social-distancing issue.鈥�

Learn More 甜瓜视频app Biology at WCU