Setup Azure, VS Code, Python environement

I am a PhD student and need to build a prototype chatbot to test some language theories. I am planning to use the Microsoft bot framework as I'll ultimately need to interface with their cognitive services. I can develop locally using the example code and emulator without issue but when I deploy to Azure the bot does not respond. I want to see if you can work out what in my environment is preventing this. I have tried with both VS Code and Visual Studio and a couple of different Azure subscriptions so figure it is some setup issue. We can discuss any details over chat.