Infectious Disease Project

Introduction
Our next unit in Biotechnology this year is titled “Outbreak: Saving the Earth One Egg at a Time.” In this lab
series, you will investigate the role of antibiotics in public health, the current issue of antibiotic resistance, how to
culture bacteria, and how to purify and isolate proteins that have antibiotic properties.
Before we begin this unit, we will investigate infectious diseases more broadly via a research project. To
familiarize yourself with what issues are relevant to think about when discussing an infectious disease, you will
choose an infectious disease and prepare a presentation that discusses what the microbe does to our bodies, how
we treat the disease, and how social, economic, and political factors affect our ability to deal with the disease.

Project Format
1. Choose an infectious disease (a disease caused by a microbe. This does NOT include diseases such as
cancer, autoimmune conditions, heart disease, etc.) that you wish to study. You will need to research
potential topics if you do not know one that you are immediately interested in.
2. You will work in a team of 2. You may choose to work by yourself, however, you will need to bring in your
own computer. If unable to do so, you must work with your lab partner.
3. You will perform a search of the literature (books, magazines, news media,
scientific journals, internet) to learn about your assigned disease.

Project Products
You may choose one of the following:
1. PowerPoint presentation
2. Poster presentation
**Presentations must not be shorter than 10 min. and no longer than approx. 15 min.**

LITERATURE CITED
 Any information that is not common knowledge (either directly quoted or
paraphrased) must be credited to the proper source—see below.

 APA style documentation must be used. For information on how to cite APA style visit:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/17/ (click the Reference List
Electronic Sources tab on the left hand side. ). This may be done on a works cited slide or section in
your poster.

 Credible sources only. Credible sources include (but are not limited to):
http://www.science.gov/
http://www.cdc.gov/
http://www.nih.gov/
http://www.sciencedaily.com/
http://www.scientificamerican.com/
http://www.discovery.com/
http://www.tifr.res.in/~base/links/websites.html (this site provides a longer list of sites)

Project Timeline
Introduction/Research: Thurs./Fri. December 11-12
Research: Mon./Tues. December 15-16
Presentations: Thurs/Fri. December 18-19
Presentations: Mon./Tues. January 5-6
***All presentations are due on Thurs/Fri Dec 18-19. Presenters will be chosen randomly***
Project Content
Cause of Disease
1. What type of microbe causes the disease? (Note: Microbes only include living organisms)
2. If it is a bacterium, what are the characteristics of the cell (Gram-negative or positive (what does that
mean?), cell shape and arrangement? metabolic capabilities?).
3. If it is eukaryote, is it a fungus, an alga, a protozoan, a Platyhelminthes, or a nematode? Is it multicellular
or unicellular? What is its life cycle?

History: How has our understanding of the diseases developed over time?
1. Describe the changes in our knowledge and attitudes toward this disease throughout history.
2. Who discovered the pathogen and disease?
3. How long have we known about this disease?
4. How has our understanding of the diseases developed over time? Discuss major shifts in our understanding
of the disease since it was discovered.

Epidemiology: Describe the prevalence and transmission of this disease.

1. Where (in the world; be specific) is the disease prevalent? How many people are currently infected?
What is the rate of new infections? What are the rates of morbidity and mortality?
2. What is (are) the reservoir(s) of the pathogen? What is (are) the mode(s) of transmission?

Pathology: Describe the pathogenic effects on cells, tissues, and organ systems.
1. Where in the body (what tissues/organs/cells) does the pathogen affect?
2. What damage does the pathogen inflict? How is this damage inflicted (is there direct
mechanical damage? is a toxin produced? Does the immune response cause damage?)?
3. What is the time sequence of the disease (length of incubation, prodrome, illness, decline,
and convalescence)? Are there sequalae?
4. What are the major signs and symptoms?

Response and Treatment

1. Describe the activity of our immune system against the pathogen.
2. What types of medical treatments exist? Describe how these treatments affect the
progression of the disease.
3. Describe prophylactic measures that can be taken to limit the risk of infection.

Socio-Politico-Economic
1. Describe any historic or present day social, economic, or political issues that either help or
hinder us in limiting the spread of the disease.
2. Suggest 2 policies and practices that can be employed to help with limiting the spread of the
disease. For each policy and practice, describe what will be needed (what we have to
sacrifice) in order to properly implement the proposal?

Extending Your Thinking

1. Generate at least two questions (not on the list above) that this research caused you to think of regarding
your disease, and use your resources to answer them.
2. Based on your research, what do you predict that the future threat of this disease will be? That is, to what
degree will this disease continue (or not continue) to affect the health of humans?
Biotechnology Infectious Disease Project Rubric
Elements of
Exemplary (4 points)
Project
Cause of Disease Research included all
criteria in a very
complete and detailed
manner
History of Disease Research explains a very
complete, detailed history
of this disease. All criteria
clearly explained.
Research clearly explains
the prevalence and
Epidemiology transmission of the
disease. All criteria
included.
All criteria explaining the
disease pathology is
Pathology
included. Explanation is
clear and detailed.
Research explains each in
Response and a very complete and
Treatment detailed manner. All
criteria included.
Research included all
Socio-politico- criteria in a very
economic complete and detailed
manner.
Questions generated are
Extending Your unique and fully
Thinking explained. Prediction and
questions are rational.
The layout is visually
pleasing and contributes
to the overall message
with appropriate use of
Presentation of headings and white
Slides/Poster space. Presenter
demonstrates thorough
knowledge, maintains eye
contact, does not read
directly from slides.
Use of pictures,
links, and/or Video clips/links and
video clips pictures are used to
(must be used in enrich your research;
both they are not used “in
Poster and place” of the research
PowerPoint)
Unsatisfactory
Proficient (3 points) Basic (1-2 points)
(0 points)
Research lacking some
Most criteria missing
criteria. Explanation is
and/or lacking most Missing
lacking clarity and/or
details.
details.
Research mentions a
history of this disease. History is unclear.
Missing
Not all criteria clearly Most criteria missing.
explained.
Research explains the
prevalence and
Most criteria missing
transmission of the
and/or lacking most Missing
disease. Most criteria
details.
included. Lacking some
important details.
Research lacking some
Most criteria missing
criteria. Explanation is
and/or lacking most Missing
lacking clarity and/or
details.
details.
Research lacking some
Most criteria missing
criteria. Explanation is
and/or lacking most Missing
lacking clarity and/or
details.
details.
Research lacking some
Most criteria missing
criteria. Explanation is
and/or lacking most Missing
lacking clarity and/or
details.
details.
Questions generated Questions generated
are somewhat unique are not unique and
and partially explained. are poorly explained.
Missing
Prediction and Prediction and
questions are questions are not
somewhat rational. rational.
The layout shows
some structure, but
The layout shows good appears cluttered and
structure, contributes busy or
to the message with distracting with large
occasional appropriate gaps of white space
use of heading and or a distracting
Missing
white space. Presenter background.
is familiar with topic Presenter is
but somewhat relies on unfamiliar with the
slides or poster for topic and relies on
communication. slides or poster for
communication.
Video clips and
Video clips/links and pictures partially
pictures are used to support your
support your research; research. You rely on Missing
they are not used “in them as your
place” of the research research in most
cases