Infectious Disease, Biological and Drug Defence
Assignment Brief
Part a) Preparation of an information leaflet entitled “Infectious Disease and its Control”, written to inform
voluntary health workers overseas. (1750 words limit).
Part b) 40 minute controlled assignment written in class time, without notes or books.
Part a)
In this assignment you need to:
• Identify a range of organisms responsible for infectious diseases (LO 1.0)
• Explain how these organisms cause disease (LO 1.0)
• Outline how diseases can be transmitted by vectors (LO 2.0)
• Explain how infectious diseases can enter the body (LO 3.0)
• Explain how the body’s non-specific defence systems help to prevent infection (LO 3.0)
• Explain how behavioural practices such as hygiene control help to prevent infection (LO 4.0)
• Explain how drugs can be utilised to treat certain diseases only (LO 6)
• Use relevant examples throughout
• Use diagrams/charts/tables or similar to support written explanations
• Use an appropriate format for an easily read information leaflet
•
Part b)
This controlled assignment will last 40 minutes. You will not be permitted to communicate with other students or the tutor during the assignment.
Answer the following question:
a. The specific human immune system is divided into two main parts: humoral immunity and cell-mediated immunity
Outline these two types of immunity
b. Consider the diagram below and explain how the ‘humoral’ response can give rise to ‘acquired immunity’
(LO 5.0)
 
Learning Outcomes Assessment Criteria Achieved
Y / N
The student should be able to: The student has achieved this outcome because s/he can:
1.0 Understand the biological diversity and key features of organisms that can cause infectious disease 1.1 Identify the biological diversity of organisms that can cause disease
1.2 Explain how the structure of an organism enables it to function as a pathogen
2.0 Demonstrate an understanding of vector-borne disease transmission 2.1 Explain the key features of vector borne diseases
3.0 Show an understanding of how the body is exposed to potential infection and how it protects itself from infection 3.1 Explain how infectious organisms can be transmitted and enter the human body
3.2 Evaluate the body’s different non-specific defences against infection
4.0 Know how behavioural practices can protect against infectious disease 4.1 Discuss how hygienic procedures and personal awareness in different situations can enhance the body’s defence mechanisms
5.0 Demonstrate an understanding of the specific immune defence mechanism 5.1 Relate the major components of the immune system to their role in the specific immune response
5.2 Explain the specific immune response
6.0 Demonstrate an understanding of how infectious disease can be controlled and treated by drug use 6.1 Evaluate the use of drugs and their specificity as control and treatment methods for causal organisms with different biological structures and functioning
6.2 Explain, with examples, how drug resistance can arise
Grading the assignment
Once the learning outcomes for this assignment are achieved, the student is eligible for grading against specific grade descriptors (these are identified on the following pages)
There are no descriptor components for Pass. Students achieve a Pass by meeting the requirements of all the assessment criteria of a unit
1 Understanding of the subject Only the components that are ticked apply to this assignment
Merit Distinction
The student, student’s work or performance: The student, student’s work or performance
a demonstrates a very good grasp of the relevant knowledge base √ a demonstrates an excellent grasp of the relevant knowledge base √
b is generally informed by the major conventions and practices of the area of study √ b is consistently informed by the major conventions and practices of the area of study √
c demonstrates very good understanding of the different perspectives or approaches associated with the area of study. c demonstrates excellent understanding of the different perspectives or approaches associated with the area of study.
2 Application of knowledge Only the components that are ticked apply to this assignment
Merit Distinction
The student, student's work or performance
makes use of relevant a The student, student's work or performance makes use of relevant a
• ideas √ • ideas √
• facts √ • facts √
• theories √ • theories √
• perspectives • perspectives
• models √ • models √
• concepts √ • concepts √
with either
b breadth or depth that goes beyond the minimum required to Pass
and/or with both
b breadth and depth
and/or
c very good levels of c excellent levels of
• consistency √ • consistency √
• precision • precision
• accuracy • accuracy
• insight √ • insight √
• analysis √ • analysis √
• synthesis • synthesis
• creativity • creativity
4 Use of information Only the components that are ticked apply to this assignment
Merit Distinction
The student, student’s work or performance: The student, student’s work or performance
a identifies new information from sources which are generally appropriate √ a identifies new information from sources which are consistently appropriate √
b makes some use of new information √ b makes extensive use of new information √
c generally appraises the relevance and value of new information accurately c consistently appraises the relevance and value of new information accurately
d shows a very good grasp of the meaning and significance of new information d shows an excellent grasp of the meaning and significance of new information
e generally combines or synthesises information with outcomes that are accurate and appropriate √
Infectious Disease and its Control
Student’s Name
Institution Affiliation
Course
Instructor
Date
Infectious Disease and its Control
Introduction
Infectious diseases are disease caused by microorganisms and are transferable from one person to another. These infections make the largest percentage of hospital-acquired infections. Infectious disease can spread directly or indirectly from one individual to another ADDIN CSL_CITATION { "citationItems" : [ { "id" : "ITEM-1", "itemData" : { "DOI" : "10.1371/journal.pone.0000747", "ISSN" : "19326203", "PMID" : "17712403", "abstract" : "The control of emergence and spread of infectious diseases depends critically on the details of the genetic makeup of pathogens and hosts, their immunological, behavioral and ecological traits, and the pattern of temporal and spatial contacts among the age/stage-classes of susceptible and infectious host individuals.", "author" : [ { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "Bolzoni", "given" : "Luca", "non-dropping-particle" : "", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" }, { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "Real", "given" : "Leslie", "non-dropping-particle" : "", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" }, { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "Leo", "given" : "Giulio", "non-dropping-particle" : "De", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" } ], "container-title" : "PLoS ONE", "id" : "ITEM-1", "issued" : { "date-parts" : [ [ "2007" ] ] }, "title" : "Transmission heterogeneity and control strategies for infectious disease emergence", "type" : "article-journal", "volume" : "2" }, "uris" : [ "/documents/?uuid=8751e3e5-da9f-48c4-b3ee-ee038f9801cc" ] } ], "mendeley" : { "formattedCitation" : "(Bolzoni et al. 2007)", "plainTextFormattedCitation" : "(Bolzoni et al. 2007)", "previouslyFormattedCitation" : "(Bolzoni et al. 2007)" }, "properties" : { "noteIndex" : 0 }, "schema" : "https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json" }(Bolzoni et al. 2007). Besides, some zoonotic infectious diseases of animals are transmittable to humans. Worldwide infectious diseases kill many people than any other single cause
Organisms responsible for infectious diseases
Pathogenic microorganisms are responsible for the infectious infections. These can be broadly be classified to include the bacteria, viruses and parasites. Bacteria are organisms that survive in appropriate media and classified to be either gram positive or gram negative depending on the gram staining ADDIN CSL_CITATION { "citationItems" : [ { "id" : "ITEM-1", "itemData" : { "DOI" : "10.1371/journal.pone.0000747", "ISSN" : "19326203", "PMID" : "17712403", "abstract" : "The control of emergence and spread of infectious diseases depends critically on the details of the genetic makeup of pathogens and hosts, their immunological, behavioral and ecological traits, and the pattern of temporal and spatial contacts among the age/stage-classes of susceptible and infectious host individuals.", "author" : [ { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "Bolzoni", "given" : "Luca", "non-dropping-particle" : "", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" }, { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "Real", "given" : "Leslie", "non-dropping-particle" : "", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" }, { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "Leo", "given" : "Giulio", "non-dropping-particle" : "De", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" } ], "container-title" : "PLoS ONE", "id" : "ITEM-1", "issued" : { "date-parts" : [ [ "2007" ] ] }, "title" : "Transmission heterogeneity and control strategies for infectious disease emergence", "type" : "article-journal", "volume" : "2" }, "uris" : [ "/documents/?uuid=8751e3e5-da9f-48c4-b3ee-ee038f9801cc" ] } ], "mendeley" : { "formattedCitation" : "(Bolzoni et al. 2007)", "plainTextFormattedCitation" : "(Bolzoni et al. 2007)", "previouslyFormattedCitation" : "(Bolzoni et al. 2007)" }, "properties" : { "noteIndex" : 0 }, "schema" : "https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json" }(Bolzoni et al. 2007). Bacteria cause various diseases and are the leading cause of the illness examples include gonorrhoea syphilis and pneumonia
Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites. They are of two types, that is, DNA virus and RNA virus. Virus entirely depends on the host for reproduction and once they in the body they cause the pathogenicity ADDIN CSL_CITATION { "citationItems" : [ { "id" : "ITEM-1", "itemData" : { "DOI" : "10.1371/journal.pone.0000747", "ISSN" : "19326203", "PMID" : "17712403", "abstract" : "The control of emergence and spread of infectious diseases depends critically on the details of the genetic makeup of pathogens and hosts, their immunological, behavioral and ecological traits, and the pattern of temporal and spatial contacts among the age/stage-classes of susceptible and infectious host individuals.", "author" : [ { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "Bolzoni", "given" : "Luca", "non-dropping-particle" : "", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" }, { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "Real", "given" : "Leslie", "non-dropping-particle" : "", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" }, { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "Leo", "given" : "Giulio", "non-dropping-particle" : "De", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" } ], "container-title" : "PLoS ONE", "id" : "ITEM-1", "issued" : { "date-parts" : [ [ "2007" ] ] }, "title" : "Transmission heterogeneity and control strategies for infectious disease emergence", "type" : "article-journal", "volume" : "2" }, "uris" : [ "/documents/?uuid=8751e3e5-da9f-48c4-b3ee-ee038f9801cc" ] } ], "mendeley" : { "formattedCitation" : "(Bolzoni et al. 2007)", "plainTextFormattedCitation" : "(Bolzoni et al. 2007)", "previouslyFormattedCitation" : "(Bolzoni et al. 2007)" }, "properties" : { "noteIndex" : 0 }, "schema" : "https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json" }(Bolzoni et al. 2007). Examples of viruses include the herpes virus human papillomavirus (HPV) and Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
Final the parasites are organism that reside in the host and entirely depend on them. Unlike other pathogens parasites are multicellular, therefore, are visible ADDIN CSL_CITATION { "citationItems" : [ { "id" : "ITEM-1", "itemData" : { "ISBN" : "0036-8075 (Print) 0036-8075 (Linking)", "ISSN" : "00368075", "PMID" : "7063839", "abstract" : "Mathematical models for the dynamics of directly transmitted viral and bacterial infections are guides to the understanding of observed patterns in the agespecific incidence of some common childhood diseases of humans, before and after the advent of vaccination programs. For those infections that show recurrent epidemic behavior, the interepidemic period can be related to parameters characterizing the infection (such as latent and infectious periods and the average age of first infection); this relation agrees with the data for a variety of childhood diseases. Criteria for the eradication of a disease are given, in terms of the proportion of the population to be vaccinated and the age-specific vaccination schedule. These criteria are compared with a detailed analysis of the vaccination programs against measles and whooping cough in Britain, and estimates are made of the levels of protection that would be needed to eradicate these diseases.", "author" : [ { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "Anderson", "given" : "Roy M", "non-dropping-particle" : "", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" }, { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "May", "given" : "Robert M", "non-dropping-particle" : "", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" } ], "container-title" : "Science", "id" : "ITEM-1", "issued" : { "date-parts" : [ [ "2013" ] ] }, "page" : "1053-1060", "title" : "Directly Transmitted Infectious Diseases: Control by Vaccination", "type" : "article-journal", "volume" : "215" }, "uris" : [ "/documents/?uuid=825e4322-4043-4eff-9996-7a3c39d19c23" ] } ], "mendeley" : { "formattedCitation" : "(Anderson & May 2013)", "plainTextFormattedCitation" : "(Anderson & May 2013)", "previouslyFormattedCitation" : "(Anderson & May 2013)" }, "properties" : { "noteIndex" : 0 }, "schema" : "https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json" }(Anderson & May 2013). Parasites are classified into two groups, the hermits like Taenia solium and protozoa like amoeba
Transmission of disease by vectors
A vector refers to an organism that has ability to transmit infectious agents from one infected host to another, in this case, the host is human beings. Mainly the vectors suck blood from an infected person during blood meals and later inject the organisms into the subsequent host. Most of the vectors are insects for example mosquitos that transmit Malaria, dengue fever, Rift Valley fever among many others
Entry of the infection to the body
Pathogens get into our bodies through various ways. First is through the skin. Once the pathogens come in contact with the body, they pierce through the skin into the blood system. These microorganisms can also infect the local skin causing itchiness, abrasions or wound. Examples of such organisms as Clostridium tetani, which causes tetanus
Secondly, other organisms called vectors can transmit the microorganisms through the skin. These include the malaria parasite by mosquitoes, rabies virus from the dogs and other pets. In this case, the parasites are contained in the saliva of these organisms and once they bite humans, they transmit the parasites. Prevention of these organisms depends on the control of these carriers ADDIN CSL_CITATION { "citationItems" : [ { "id" : "ITEM-1", "itemData" : { "DOI" : "10.1098/rspb.2006.0015", "ISBN" : "0962-8452", "ISSN" : "0962-8452", "PMID" : "17251095", "abstract" : "Effective control of infectious disease outbreaks is an important public health goal. In a number of recent studies, it has been shown how different intervention measures like travel restrictions, school closures, treatment and prophylaxis might allow us to control outbreaks of diseases, such as SARS, pandemic influenza and others. In these studies, control of a single outbreak is considered. It is, however, not clear how one should handle a situation where multiple outbreaks are likely to occur. Here, we identify the best control strategy for such a situation. We further discuss ways in which such a strategy can be implemented to achieve additional public health objectives.", "author" : [ { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "Handel", "given" : "Andreas", "non-dropping-particle" : "", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" }, { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "Longini", "given" : "Ira M", "non-dropping-particle" : "", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" }, { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "Antia", "given" : "Rustom", "non-dropping-particle" : "", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" } ], "container-title" : "Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society", "id" : "ITEM-1", "issued" : { "date-parts" : [ [ "2007" ] ] }, "page" : "833-837", "title" : "What is the best control strategy for multiple infectious disease outbreaks?", "type" : "article-journal", "volume" : "274" }, "uris" : [ "/documents/?uuid=d8db66e8-4339-4861-b48c-29c879089d98" ] } ], "mendeley" : { "formattedCitation" : "(Handel et al. 2007)", "plainTextFormattedCitation" : "(Handel et al. 2007)", "previouslyFormattedCitation" : "(Handel et al. 2007)" }, "properties" : { "noteIndex" : 0 }, "schema" : "https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json" }(Handel et al. 2007).
Alternatively, the microorganisms can penetrate via the skin cuts and wounds. When the skin, which is the first line of defence, is broken, penetration of these microorganisms is possible. More so, if a contaminated instrument causes the cut, the chance of getting the infections are very high. Health workers at the hospital, have high chances of getting the infections from the skin injuries caused by scalpels, needles and other sharp instruments ADDIN CSL_CITATION { "citationItems" : [ { "id" : "ITEM-1", "itemData" : { "DOI" : "10.1098/rspb.2006.0015", "ISBN" : "0962-8452", "ISSN" : "0962-8452", "PMID" : "17251095", "abstract" : "Effective control of infectious disease outbreaks is an important public health goal. In a number of recent studies, it has been shown how different intervention measures like travel restrictions, school closures, treatment and prophylaxis might allow us to control outbreaks of diseases, such as SARS, pandemic influenza and others. In these studies, control of a single outbreak is considered. It is, however, not clear how one should handle a situation where multiple outbreaks are likely to occur. Here, we identify the best control strategy for such a situation. We further discuss ways in which such a strategy can be implemented to achieve additional public health objectives.", "author" : [ { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "Handel", "given" : "Andreas", "non-dropping-particle" : "", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" }, { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "Longini", "given" : "Ira M", "non-dropping-particle" : "", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" }, { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "Antia", "given" : "Rustom", "non-dropping-particle" : "", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" } ], "container-title" : "Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society", "id" : "ITEM-1", "issued" : { "date-parts" : [ [ "2007" ] ] }, "page" : "833-837", "title" : "What is the best control strategy for multiple infectious disease outbreaks?", "type" : "article-journal", "volume" : "274" }, "uris" : [ "/documents/?uuid=d8db66e8-4339-4861-b48c-29c879089d98" ] } ], "mendeley" : { "formattedCitation" : "(Handel et al. 2007)", "plainTextFormattedCitation" : "(Handel et al. 2007)", "previouslyFormattedCitation" : "(Handel et al. 2007)" }, "properties" : { "noteIndex" : 0 }, "schema" : "https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json" }(Handel et al. 2007). The most common infectious by this method include HIV /AIDS and Hepatitis.
Some of the agents can penetrate through the mucous membrane of the body. The mucous membranes have moist conditions that enable the pathogens to penetrate into the body they can also cause both local and systemic effects. Bacteria penetration via the mucous membranes can be further be classified to the either respiratory, genitourinary or gastrointestinal. Examples of such infections are Ebola virus, some bacteria and protozoans
Gastrointestinal penetration involves the person ingesting the pathogen through the mouth. Once swallowed the pathogen can cause the some infectious damage locally within the alimentary canal for example amoeba, salmonella typhus and the vibrio cholerae. Besides, other pathogens can enter the blood system causing systemic infections, for instance, the parasites. Other pathogens can penetration the respiration tract system into the body. These are...