Pathogen Essay Guideline

Pathogen Essay Guideline

Select a pathogen of your own choice: Virus, Bacteria, Fungi, Protozoa or microscopic worms. Do not select any pathogens out in the web, but it must be a microbe pathogen.

It will be graded on the depth knowledge, ability to explain clearly, extensiveness of the research, citations, and AUTHENTICITY.  Utilizing vocabulary words used in class is crucial.

Your essay should be typed and double-spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5″ x 11″), with 1″ margins on all sides. You should use a clear font that is highly readable, 12 pt. Times New Roman font.  Use APA format to make references.  Minimum of 3 references are required.

Expected page numbers: 3 to 5 pages including reference page.

Introduction: 5 points

• State the name of the pathogen (Genus species). Include both scientific and common name (if any).
• Type of pathogen
• Unique characteristics of pathogen[unique_solution]
  • Size?
  • Color?
  • Shape?
  • Mode of movement?
  • Gram neg? Gram pos?
  • Prokaryote? Eukaryote?
  • Do they form into a spore?
  • Where are they commonly found?
  • Optimal growth conditions? pH? Temp? oxygen? Require host?
  • You may include an image to better describe the pathogen

Body: 15 points

• Life cycle/mode of transmission and how they infect a host
  • What host?
  • How do the infect?
  • What happens in the organisms’ body?
  • Where does it specifically target?
  • How does it survive in the host?
  • Time length of one full life cycle.
• Types of disease it causes, symptoms and signs
  • What kind of health effects occur in patients, animals, or plants?
  • Asymptomatic, why?
  • What kind of symptoms and signs in patients?
  • How did these patients obtain these pathogens in the first place?
  • Are there treatments? If so, what?
• Portal of exit
  • What is the common port of exit for a pathogen?
  • How do they spread to other patients, animals, or plants?

Conclusion: 5 points

• What are the ways we can do to prevent pathogens to enter our body?
  • Vaccines?
  • Stay away from certain location? Food?
  • Bug spray?
  • Etc
• Why is it important for public to know about this pathogen?
• Was there any outbreaks in the past and how as it controlled?
• Final comments about the pathogen.

Reference: 5 points

• Reference in APA format is required
• Reference include in-text citations and separate reference page.
• Please refer to https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/purdue_owl.html
• You may use the citation generator but do be careful, not all of them follow the APA format. Here is a notable one: http://www.citationmachine.net/apa