Investigating emerging infectious diseases

Investigating emerging infectious diseases

PAPER INSTRUCTIONS

1. i)    After downloading, you may answer the Questions directly in the computer file, print out a copy of BOTH the Questions and the Answers, and turn in to your Instructor. (Be sure to save a copy.)ii)    Provide reputable references for where you obtain your information.  Each reference should take the reader directly to the place where the information was obtained.  For example, ‘CDC.gov’ or ‘NIH.gov’ will not suffice, nor will ‘Lecture Notes,’ nor ‘Textbook.’  You might consider consulting http://ezproxy.pgcc.edu/login
   NOTE:  You may use any reliable reference(s) (online, textbook, lecture notes, scientific articles in print, etc.).  Scientific references from Wikipedia.com are NOT CONSIDERED RELIABLE.Ø
   NOTE:  Reference citations should follow the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) journal guidelines that can be viewed at the following website:Øhttp://jmbe.asm.org/asm/pages/files/asmstyleguidesreferences.pdf

   IF YOU DO NOT PROPERLY ANNOTATE YOUR REFERENCES,  YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE FULL POINT.
   Multiple-Part Short Answer Question #1:
   Topic = ‘Interdisciplinary Nature of Biology’
   Considering the following: [unique_solution]
   Investigating emerging infectious diseases involves many different fields of science.  As an epidemiologist, you determine that the lethal dose 50% (LD50) for Vibrio cholerae changes from 108 cells to 104 if the bacteria are ingested with sodium bicarbonate or another alkaline substance.
   NOTE:  The same outcome would result from taking antacids, or anti-ulcer drugs such as proton pump inhibitors (Prilosec, Zantac, etc.).Ø
   NOTE:  Remember that bicarbonate is alkaline and also functions as the pH buffer in the human body.  Remember the function of a ‘buffer’ in a system with changing pH.Ø
   a)    For this example, describe Lethal Dose 50% (LD50), in terms of the relationship between the number of cells ingested and patient mortality rates.

LD stands for “Lethal Dose”. LD₅₀ is the amount of a material, given all at once, which causes the death of 50% (one half) of a group of test animals. The LD₅₀ is one way to measure the short-term poisoning potential (acute toxicity) of a material.

1. b)    Describe the affect that low pH has on the growth of Vibrio cholerae. In your response, describe how pH generally influences bacterial growth.
   c)    Discuss how the Lethal Dose 50% (LD50) for a particular species of bacteria might change over time. In your response, make reference to which virulence factors are most likely to change and how genetic exchange might account for a particular species of bacteria acquiring those virulence factors from a donor species.Multiple-Part Short Answer Question #2:
   Topic = ‘Relationship between Microorganisms & Humans’
   Considering the following:
   A variety of bacteria symbiotically populate the human digestive system.  Many of these microorganisms are harmless, but some can cause disease in humans.  You have a patient with trauma to the epithelium in both their small and large intestine and microorganisms have spread to their blood (sepsis). You isolate and cultivate two suspect Escherichia coli strains from your patient, Escherichia coli Strain A and Escherichia coli Strain B. Upon completion of your analysis, you determine that Escherichia coli Strain A is causing the damage to intestinal lining.
   a)    Describe how these two very similar organisms could be different in terms of specific cell structures and molecules.  In your response, discuss how unique structures or molecules may allow Escherichia coli Strain A to harm its host.
   b)    Identify which of these two strains is more likely to benefit from colonization of the human host and why.
   c)    Describe the benefits of this relationship to both the aforementioned bacterial pathogen and to its human host.Short Answer Question #3
   Topic = ‘Outbreak-The most deadliest Threat’
   Considering the following:
   In your opinion, what is the most deadliest/greatest biological pathogen facing the public health?
   a)    Choose any pathogen (bacterial, viral, protein).
   b)    Describe the organism (pathogenicity, structures, genomic characteristics, etc…)
   c)    Defend your conclusion. Write AT LEAST 1 paragraph defending your argument. You will be graded on how well you make and defend your position.
   Your writing should: discuss why you have asserted your claim (based on what evidence)
   2.    Site references that support your claim (case studies, historical perspectives, MMWR, WHO Outbreak news, etc…). For example – “As stated in the CDC MMWR, HIV-1 affects over 1 million per year with rising numbers in communities, which had not previously seen any cases.”