Microorganism and their impact on human
Focus:
This fall I wish to use the CREATE methods of communicating concepts of microorganisms to my freshman biology class. To communicate and leave a lasting impression about the nature of microorganism and their impact on human health I have selected to use a series of three articles from Scientific American. These three papers will introduce to the student the concept of microbiome and their ecological niches in the human body. The role of majority of the microorganism in human body. The difference between pathogenic and commensal bacteria. How bacteria could be engineered to transport nanoparticles and drugs for targeted destruction of cancer cells. The concept of virus would also be communicated and how bacteriophage could be used to biologically control bacteria instead of using antibiotics.
Overview:
Applicable for Courses:
General BiologyEducational Level:
Introductory LevelRoadmap Objectives:
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- Article: How bacteria in our bodies protect our health: J. Ackerman (2012) Scientific American, 5/15/2012
- Content area/major concepts: I chose this paper because it introduce the idea that only a small fraction of bacterial species are pathogenic and harmful to human. Contrary to the common myth among general population this article discussed many experimental finding about the beneficial effect of bacteria on human.
Microbiome, Commensalism, how new born acquire their community of commensalic bacteria, molecular characterization of microbe, identifying the microbiomic genes expression by gene sequencing , Synthesis of micronutrient by commensal in human gut, experimental proof of microbiomes beneficial effect on human, human autoimmune disease and absence of native microbiome, obesity and microbiome, regulation of hunger hormone Ghrelin by microbiome, immune response and microbiome, autoimmune disease and microbiome. - Methods or technology used to obtain data:
- How the CREATE strategy was used:
- Biggest teaching challenge: Jargons of Immunology and Microbiology, substantial number of concepts, Concept map and cartoon would be complex, very little quantitative data to make charts and graphs.
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- Article: Microbial Mules: Engineering Bacteria to Transport Nanoparticles and Drugs. Ferris Jabr, Scientific American, 3/29/2012
- Content area/major concepts: I chose this paper because it would show that among many uses bacteria could be utilized in nanotechnology. This paper open the eyes that bacteria could be used to deliver medicine to targeted cell in the human body.
Nanoparticles, Antibody, engineered bacteria, transgenic mice, reporter gene, microrobots, luciferase gene, single cell green alga. - Methods or technology used to obtain data:
- How the CREATE strategy was used:
- Biggest teaching challenge: Jargons of immunology, Antibody conjugation visualization, visualization of nanoparticles
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- Article: Deadly Cocktails for killing bacteria: S. E. Gould (2012), Scientific American, 3/12/2012
- Content area/major concepts: This paper should help the student conceptualize the biological control of bacteria using bacterial pathogen. This paper shows alternative to antibiotics.
Bacteriophage-lytic and lysogenic, Bacterial resistance, bacteriophage cocktail, monophage therapy, antibacterial treatments - Methods or technology used to obtain data:
- How the CREATE strategy was used:
- Biggest teaching challenge: Virus life cycle conceptualization, development of different genetic strains, making charts and graphs from very simple data