Pathogen

Antimicrobial resistance has been increasing throughout recent years. One reason is due to a prevalent use of antibiotics as growth stimulants in livestock. The bacteria in the livestock become resistant due to constant exposure to the antibiotics. When the meat harvested from these animals is packaged and sold, the bacteria are now exposed to the human population. This bacterium can make its way into the human body and cause various illnesses. Illnesses that were once easily cured with…

system. The innate immune system is comprised of the body’s first line of defense which consist of physical barriers and certain cell types. The acquired immune system is more specific, actually focusing in on the individual pathogen in question. Focusing on the individual pathogen allows for a more targeted defense, which is the ultimate reason vaccinations function properly. Having been previously exposed to an antigen, the body is then able to produce receptors for that antigen, recognize…

greater risk of death compared to their illness. Patient safety practice was created to minimize risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance. The risks to the patients consist of medication error, pathogen transmission, and various physical hazards; all of which could be reduced or prevented. In order for this competency to work, all healthcare providers must create a common goal to achieve. The “Patient Safety Movement” has taken it upon…

Insect immune systems are highly adept, they can recognize specific pathogens and prime offspring immunity⁴. This high specifying of immune priming can be reached when female insects transfer immune elictors into developing oocytes. This transfer is a phenomenon that has yet to be explained. She and her research team founded…

reduce the harmful effects of drug use on individuals and communities by reducing the transmission of blood-borne pathogens through the provision of sterile needles and other drug-using equipment without requiring individuals to quit using drugs” (p.10). Using a harm reduction approach in drug use is scientifically evident to be effective in reducing transmission of blood-borne pathogens and improving health…

Eric Schlosser, in his book, Fast Food Nation, advocates for changes in how American food is recently being produced in meatpacking industries. Schlosser’s purpose is to end meatpackers ability to sell and raise their cattle as they wish even if it is less than acceptable. He argues against the corporate corruption using the devices of anecdote, logos, and tone. Schlosser begins chapter nine of his book by narrating the consequences of the industrialization of beef in america. He appeals to the…

can give bacterial meningitis. Some of the most prevalent strains of bacterial meningitis in the U.S. include Haemophilus influenza, Streptococcus pneumoniae, group B Streptococcus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Neisseria meningitidis. Most of these pathogens are more or less dangerous to certain age people. Meningitis often shows up accompanied by a fever, headache, or stiff neck. They often have other symptoms as well though, such as nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and minor or severe…

Parasites, pathogens and disease play a huge role in the decline of bees. One example of a parasite which affects forager honeybees is the parasitic mite, Varroa destructor. This ectoparasitic mite was previously only found to affect the Eastern honey bee, Apis cerana, but in the last ~50 years, it has also found a new host, Apis mellifera and become a problem worldwide (Rosenkranz, Aumeier and Ziegelmann, 2010). Varroa mites reproduce in young honeybee cells, called capped brood cells. They…

The symbiosome is a key area of research at present, it is defined as the organ which the organism produces to entrap the microbe internally* (V. Clarke et al 2014). The symbiotic relationship between plants and fungi is an essential one for benefiting fully from Mycorrhizae, which then helps the land plants absorb the essential nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen. The interaction between plants and microbes allows for essential functions of the plants such as growth, germination and…

After reading Stacy Herlihy and Allison Hagood’s respective stories in the introduction, I changed my point of view about this book. I first thought that Your Baby’s Best Shot was a book that is written to evaluate and discuss the reasons why vaccines are safe for babies. I assumed that both authors came from a scientific background that will make this book one sided. However, I was surprised that neither of the authors did. I was surprised in Stacy’s opening story, how she was once in a…