Bio106 Introduction To Microbiology And Infectious Disease R

Bio106introduction To Microbiologyinfectious Disease Research Paper1

Choose a microbe that has been in the news recently or one you are interested in researching. You may choose a bacterium, virus, prion, viroid, fungi or protozoa. The microbe you choose must have a clinical application, but can also have industrial, agricultural, ecological or research applications as well.

Research your chosen microbe. You may use your textbook, the CDC – either Canadian or US, Bergey’s Manual of Bacteria or other reliable resource. You MAY NOT use Wikipedia or other .com sites, unless approved by your instructor. You will need to provide a list of references for your paper, and list them in APA format. You are required to use a minimum of 3 references.

You will need to find the following information for your paper:

  • Chosen microbe – Genus and species (if applicable)
  • Taxonomic hierarchy of your microbe – i.e., Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus species
  • Name of the disease or problem that it causes, its role in its environment, or its application
  • Type of microbe – bacteria, virus, etc. – as well as specific details, size, shape, stains, genetic information, etc.
  • Preferred portal of entry – how does the microbe get transferred to the target population and how does it leave the host?
  • Distinguishing features of the microbe – what makes this microbe important?
  • How does this agent cause disease? What are the symptoms/signs of infection?
  • Treatment – what are the treatments, or if it is used for another purpose, how is it controlled?
  • Prevention – how is this microbe prevented from infecting others, or spreading to other plants, etc.? How is it managed?
  • Why did you pick this microbe? What was it about it that interested you or what has made you interested now?

Reference list: The format for your reference will be APA. A great reference site is the OWL site of Purdue University.

The overall format for the paper will be 3-4 pages, 12 font, Times New Roman, 1-inch Margins.

This paper is worth 50 pts of your total lecture grade and will be graded for:

  • Content
  • Formatting
  • Grammar
  • Organization

This paper is due Monday April 20th.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The microbe I have chosen for this research is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB). This bacterium has been a significant public health concern worldwide for centuries, especially in developing countries. Tuberculosis remains one of the leading infectious causes of death globally, and understanding this microbe is crucial for advancing treatment and prevention strategies.

Taxonomic Classification

The genus and species of this microbe are Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Its taxonomic hierarchy is as follows: Kingdom: Bacteria; Phylum: Actinobacteria; Class: Actinobacteria; Order: Micrococcales; Family: Mycobacteriaceae; Genus: Mycobacterium; Species: M. tuberculosis.

Nature and Morphology

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a slender, rod-shaped bacterium, approximately 2-4 micrometers in length. It is acid-fast due to its waxy mycolic acid cell wall, which makes it stain positive with the Ziehl-Neelsen method. The bacterium is aerobic and exhibits slow growth, often taking weeks to form colonies on culture media.

Disease and Role in the Environment

This microbe causes tuberculosis, a chronic disease primarily affecting the lungs but capable of affecting other organs. In the environment, M. tuberculosis often exists within infected hosts, transmitted via aerosols produced through coughing or sneezing. Its survival in aerosols facilitates transmission, especially in crowded or poorly ventilated settings.

Mode of Transmission

The preferred portal of entry is the respiratory system. The bacterium becomes airborne when an infected individual coughs or sneezes, releasing droplet nuclei containing M. tuberculosis. These droplets are inhaled by susceptible hosts, initiating infection. The bacterium leaves the host primarily through coughing, which expels infectious aerosols.

Distinguishing Features

What makes M. tuberculosis particularly important is its ability to evade host immune defenses and establish a latent infection, which can reactivate later. Its waxy cell wall contributes to resistance against many disinfectants and antibiotics, complicating eradication efforts.

Pathogenesis and Symptoms

Once inhaled, M. tuberculosis infects alveolar macrophages, where it can survive and multiply. The immune response leads to granuloma formation, which contains the infection but also facilitates latency. Symptoms of active TB include chronic cough, hemoptysis, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. Without treatment, TB can become disseminated and fatal.

Treatment and Control

The standard treatment involves a combination of antibiotics such as isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide, administered over at least six months. Multi-drug resistant strains pose a significant challenge. Vaccination with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) provides some protection, especially in children, but is not entirely effective.

Prevention Strategies

Prevention of TB transmission includes screening high-risk populations, ensuring adequate ventilation, and the use of protective masks. Long-term control also relies on prompt diagnosis and adherence to treatment regimens to reduce infectiousness and prevent resistance development.

Personal Interest and Reflection

I chose Mycobacterium tuberculosis because of its historical significance and ongoing relevance. Its ability to persist and adapt in various environments fascinates me, especially considering the global health implications and the scientific ingenuity required to combat it.

References

  • World Health Organization. (2022). Global tuberculosis report 2022. WHO. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240037021
  • Baldwin, S. A. (2018). Mycobacterium tuberculosis pathogenesis. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 218(7), 1053-1063.
  • Russell, D. G. (2019). Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Regulator of host immune responses. Trends in Immunology, 40(11), 1023-1034.
  • CDC. (2021). Tuberculosis (TB). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/default.htm
  • Zumla, A., Raviglione, M., Hafner, R., & Von Reyn, C. F. (2019). Tuberculosis. New England Journal of Medicine, 378(3), 229-243.

Related Assignments