Medical Interventions and Disease Tracking

Medical Interventions

• Medications: Ibuprofen, Tylenol, antidepressants
• Hygiene: Soap, hand sanitizer, toothpaste
• Physical Treatment: (no specific examples given in the text)

Patient Zero

• First person to become sick in an outbreak
• Possesses the highest concentration of the disease antigen
• Epidemiologists use samples, bioinformatics (BLAST), and patient interviews to identify Patient Zero and track disease spread.
• Quarantine and treatment of infected individuals is essential.

Using DNA to Identify Pathogens

• Bioinformatics combines biology, computers, and information technology to store and analyze genetic data.
• The Human Genome Project mapped the human genome, aiding pathogen identification.
• Bioinformatics compares patient pathogens to known databases.
• DNA identification steps include sample preparation, PCR amplification, purification, sequencing preparation, DNA sequencing, and sequence analysis using BLAST.

Serial Dilutions

• Used to determine the amount of disease antigen present in a sample.
• Creates samples with varying concentrations.
• Dilution calculations involve solute, solvent, and solution.
• Formulas are provided for tube dilution and final dilution.
• Concentration is calculated based on the original concentration and final dilution.
• Used in ELISA to identify Patient Zero through comparison of antigen concentrations in patient samples.

ELISA

• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay uses antibody tagging and enzyme reactions to produce visible color changes.
• Qualitative results show whether a patient has a specific antigen or antibody.
• Quantitative results measure the amount of detected substance.
• Data helps trace the chain of infection.
• Serial dilutions are used to produce samples with varying antigen concentrations.
• Comparison of sample concentration to a concentration strip identifies the patient with the highest antigen concentration (Patient Zero).
• ELISA steps outline the process of detecting antigens or antibodies in a sample.

Bacterial Structures

• Capsule: Protective layer (found in more harmful species)
• Cell Wall: Second outer layer, provides shape and contains endotoxins.
• Plasma Membrane: Controls molecule passage.
• Nucleoid: Contains bacterial DNA.
• Pili: Hair-like structures for attachment and DNA transfer (conjugation).
• Plasmids: Circular DNA exchanged via pili; the only form of DNA that can be exchanged.
• Ribosomes: Produce proteins.
• Flagella: Used for movement.
• Gram-Positive Bacteria: Thicker cell walls, stain blue/purple, generally considered less dangerous.
• Gram-Negative Bacteria: Thinner cell walls, stain red/pink, often more dangerous.

Classes of Antibiotics

• Antibiotics are substances derived from microorganisms that inhibit or kill bacteria.
• Different antibiotic classes target different bacterial processes, leading to varying antibiotic effects.

Antibiotic Effectiveness and Uses

• Testing antibiotic effectiveness involves creating zones of inhibition around antibiotic disks placed on petri dishes with bacteria.
• The largest inhibition zones indicate the most effective antibiotics.

Superbugs Lab: Developing & Spreading Antibiotic Resistance

• Antibiotic resistance develops from mutations, mutations involving efflux pumps and enzyme inactivation.
• Resistance genes are shared through conjugation, transformation, and transduction.
• Conjugation transfers plasmids.
• Transformation involves bacteria picking up free plasmids.
• Transduction involves bacteriophages transferring DNA.

When Antibiotics Fail

• Bacteria are categorized as least resistant to most resistant with weakest bacteria being susceptible to killing first.