1. Coming Soon to a Person Near You!
Understanding Microbes
and Disease
By: Shirley Grimsley

2. Essential Question:
How can science help us to understand the world around us?

3. Rationale
Microbes are a part of our lives every day. Some of them are good for us, some of them are harmful, and some of them are deadly.
We need to understand the role microbes play in our lives and how to prevent diseases that are associated with them.

4. Many microbes in our world cause sickness and disease in animals and plants.
Entamoeba
histolytica
Streptococcus
AIDS

5. Protists Entamoeba histolytica
Causes dysentery, a severe form of amebiasis associated with stomach pain, bloody stools, and fever.
Plasmodium, a one-celled parasite transmitted by a mosquito.
Causes Malaria, associated with flu-like symptoms and intestinal problems.
Plasmodium attacking a red blood cell

6. Bacteria Streptococcus Bacterium
Causes the strep throat, a painful sore throat and fever.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Causes Tuberculosis, a highly contagious respiratory disease.

7. Viruses Retroviridae - HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
Causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which is a deadly disease that attacks the human immune system.
Orthomyxoviridae – Influenza Virus
Causes the flu, which is a respiratory infection that often causes the infected person to have a fever, headache, and body aches.

8. How can you prevent the spread of diseases caused by microbes?
Top 5 ways to help prevent the spread of disease:
#5 - Use antibiotics correctly.
#4 - Get immunized.
#3 - Use care when preparing and handling food.
#2 – Keep surfaces clean and disinfected.
And, #1 - Wash your hands.

9. Resources: AIDS Pathology
Useful for images of viruses
The Big Picture Book of Viruses
Useful for images of influenza virus and HIV
Flu – NIAID Fact Sheet
Useful information about influenza
Hand washing – CDC – An Ounce of Prevention: Keeps the Germs Away
Useful video on hand washing

10. Resources, continued Malaria Brochure
Epidemic – The World of Infectious Diseases l
Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute – Press Release on DNA of the tissue destroyer -Genome clues to Amoebic Dysentery
Useful image and content information about Etamoeba Hystolytica