The black plague Leaving bodies in it’s wake… Lamya’a Dawud & Sammy LeBlanc

Spread of the Plague The black plague is actually caused by a bacterial infection, usually carried by fleas found on rats or other rodents. These infected fleas bite humans and spread the disease.

History: Taken By ship… Some historians believe the pandemic began in China or Central Asia (one such location is lake Issyk Kul) in the late 1320s or 1330s, and during the next years merchants and soldiers carried it over the caravan routes until in 1346 it reached the Crimea in South Eastern Europe. Other scholars believe the plague was endemic in that area. In either case, from Crimea the plague spread to Western Europe and North Africa during the 1340s. The total number of deaths worldwide is estimated at 75 million people, approximately 25–50 million of which occurred in Europe. The Black Death is estimated to have killed 30% to 60% of Europe's population. It may have reduced the world's population from an estimated 450 million to between 350 and 375 million in (Wikipedia)

Y. pestis is a rod- shaped facultative anaerobe with bipolar staining. Similar to other Yersinia members, it tests negative for urease, lactose fermentation, and indole. The closest relative is the gastrointestinal pathogen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, and more distantly Yersinia enterocolitica. (Wikipedia) General Characteristics

Structure: Yersinia pestis is a bacterial infection that is the basis for the black plague. When it enters the body it causes “buboes” in the armpit, groin and neck, giving it the name of the “bubonic plague.” The pneumonic and septicaemic plagues are also common when the bacterial infection is present.

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 6 Symptoms The bubonic plague is known for its prolific “buboes,” or swollen lymph nodes in the armpits, groin and neck areas. Other signs and symptoms include darkish blots or pustules that cover large areas of skin on the body. Victims also felt nauseous, fevered, headachy or achy in general.

How Does it Enter the Body The bubonic plague enters the body via fleas. Fleas bite an infected organism and the bubonic plague infests their body and stays in the esophagus, successfully preventing the flea from getting it’s nourishment. This is very useful to the bacteria because the flea is starving and will keep eating and the bacteria will take its nourishment and grow. The flea tries to eat more and regurgitates some of it’s food which allows the bacteria to transfer into another organism. Rodents often carry fleas that carry the plague. The fleas bite humans and the bacteria enters the blood where it then produces F1 and V antigens which helps the bacteria become immune. The bubonic plague goes to the lymph nodes and replicates rapidly inside there which produces the buboes.The bubonic plague enters the body via fleas. Fleas bite an infected organism and the bubonic plague infests their body and stays in the esophagus, successfully preventing the flea from getting it’s nourishment. This is very useful to the bacteria because the flea is starving and will keep eating and the bacteria will take its nourishment and grow. The flea tries to eat more and regurgitates some of it’s food which allows the bacteria to transfer into another organism. Rodents often carry fleas that carry the plague. The fleas bite humans and the bacteria enters the blood where it then produces F1 and V antigens which helps the bacteria become immune. The bubonic plague goes to the lymph nodes and replicates rapidly inside there which produces the buboes.

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 8 Treatments According to the CDC, if a person is being suspected of having the plague they are hospitalized and medically isolated. They are then tested for blood cultures and their lymph gland, blood, and sputum samples are examined. Treatment includes antibiotic treatment. Streptomycin is the number one choice, but if it is not available Gentamicin is used. Tetracyclines and chloramphenicol are also effective. People who have had contact with the patient are taken in and examined for the plague. In 17 th century times, plauge victims were treated by “plague doctors” who wore gruesome masks with long noses full of herbs that they believed protected them from the disease.

Streptomycin, gentamicin, tetracycline, and chloramphenicol are antibiotics that destroys bacterial infections such as the plague. Streptomycin, chloramphenicol, and gentamicin target protein synthesis by binding to the 16S rRNA of the bacterial ribosomes interfering with the binding of formyl- methionyl-tRNA to the 30S subunit. Tetracycline inhibits cell growth by inhibiting translation, but it’s usefulness has been reduced due to bacterial resistance to this antibiotic. Antibiotics

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 10 Bibliography "Black Death." Black Death. Wikpedia. 26 Jan "Bubonic Plague." Bubonic Plague. Wikpedia. 26 Jan "Gentamicin." Gentamicin. Wikpedia. 26 Jan "Plague: Questions and Answers." Plague: Questions and Answers. 30 Mar CDC. 23 Jan "Streptomycin." Streptomycin. Wikpedia. 26 Jan "Yersinia Pestis." Yersinia Pestis. Wikpedia. 26 Jan Images found on google.com