Vectors & Fomites: An Investigative Laboratory for Undergraduates (original) (raw)

The American Biology Teacher, 1996

Abstract

One need not look very far to find relevant news items concerning man and the microbial world. The media of the past decade have been filled with stories of newly emerging and reemerging disease agents (Ebola, Hantavirus, tuberculosis), modern epidemics (HIV, herpesvirus), as well as the many accomplishments of the recombinant DNA revolution. The problem has always been making microbiology relevant to undergraduate students. Human microbiological concerns, in one form or another, have revolved around the transfer of microbial agents from one organism to another. Researchers want to know how to avoid transfer of a disease agent or how to prevent the spread of the products of genetic engineering. The history of microbial analysis is full of studies detailing how a microbe gets from one place to another. In many cases the transfer occurred because of interaction with an invertebrate, such as a tick (lyme disease) or mosquito (encephalitis). In other cases transfer occurs from the surface of a contaminated needle (HIV). Transfer agents are referred to as fomites (nonliving) or vectors (living). A review of laboratory manuals utilized in introductory general microbiology courses indicates few exercises dealing with laboratory model systems to demonstrate vector or fomite activities. The purpose of this exercise is to allow students to discover the action of vectors without exposing them to infectious agents. We also use this exercise as a means to introduce genetically engineered mi-

Michael Gealt hasn't uploaded this paper.

Let Michael know you want this paper to be uploaded.

Ask for this paper to be uploaded.