Virulence

The plague is probably best known in the West as the disease that caused the Black Death in Europe in the fourteenth century. Nearly two-thirds of the population of Europe was killed, leaving a marked impact on Western culture (Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 2014). However, plague has not been eradicated and continues to be a disease that humans contend with in the twenty-first century. Natural disasters, human conflict, and abnormally warm and dry weather conditions can all cause increases…

While coaching, I 've had to be organized, punctual, professional, and I 've had to distinguish myself as a role model. I believe labeling myself as a "role model" rather than a "coach" allowed for a relationship with bi-directional respect. Being respected by my players has allowed me to mentor them, not only in the discipline of athletics, but in many important life values. Furthermore, while coaching, I 've had to refurnish my intercommunication skills when talking to people with different…

Identifying a bacteria based off of physical characteristics is almost impossible due to the commonality of shapes and physical features. Because of this, a wide range of biochemical tests were preformed in order to better identify the bacteria. Being able to identify an unknown was the most interesting part of the microbiology lab this semester, as well as, being able to preform the various tests. Proper aseptic technique was used throughout the semester and followed during all biochemical…

In many cases bees have been labeled a nuisance. To some people, especially people who are allergic to bees, these flying insects are no help; yet, in most cases they are essential to the survival of flowering plants or angiosperms. They complete the reproduction cycle of these plants and without them some plants would not have a successful pollination. Besides beekeepers, and other jobs where work relates to bees, these important creatures go unnoticed. Including bees “insect pollinators merit…

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 TUBERCULOSIS Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB is a major global health problem and it ranks alongside Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) as a leading cause of death worldwide. According to the estimates of WHO global tuberculosis report of 2015, there were 9.6 million people who developed TB and 1.5 million who died from the disease in 2014. 1.2 TRANSMISSION AND PATHOGENESIS OF TB TB infection occurs when…

Impetigo is the most common bacterial infection in children. This is a highly contagious infection of the superficial layers of the epidermis and is primarily caused by Streptococcus pyogenes or Staphylococcus aureus (1). Sometimes Streptococcus or strep bacteria can cause impetigo. It is most common in children between the ages of two and six, although anyone can become infected. The most common form of impetigo is called Impetigo contagiosa. This type usually starts as a red sore on your…

Taylor’s Moral Ontology and The Road Not Taken Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; - Robert Frost In the famous poem by the poet-philosopher Robert Frost a hiker encounters two roads that diverge and must choose one path or another. Frost presents the decision as a matter of chance as there is no guide and both paths are equally beguiling. In the…

Bonnie Bassler, an American molecular biologist, once stated, “When antibiotics became industrially produced following World War II, our quality of life and our longevity improved enormously. No one thought bacteria were going to become resistant” (Bassler, 2002). Bassler suggests how antibiotics can improve our livelihoods by treating health issues. However, there may be a long-term problem associated with increased usage of antibiotics, as there can be additional disease risks with the rise of…

What is biodiversity? Introduction Biodiversity is defined as the variety of life on Earth at all its levels and includes genes to ecosystems, as well as the ecological and evolutionary processes that sustain it (Cardinale, 2012). The Earth’s biodiversity has long been a source of wonderment and scientific curiosity, but is increasingly becoming a source of concern. The sheer diversity of life is of inestimable value. Biodiversity has a number of functions on Earth, from providing a foundation…

Man has used biological weapons such as poisons for assassinating enemies for hundreds of years. Since the beginning of time, biological warfare has been a preferred method to annihilate populations at a time. Biological warfare, also known as germ warfare, is described as using biological agents like bacteria, viruses and fungi as biological weapons on a large scale to defeat the enemy. The main intention of such is to cause casualties by the medium of air, water, cattle or crops. The history…