As disease-infected mosquitoes expand their range, these bugs rise higher on the "menace to human health" list. What makes mosquitoes so perfect for disease transfer? Is global warming a factor? How is modern technology being harnessed to combat skeeters? National standards included for grades 5-12. Teacher resource page at http://whyfiles.org/teachers/016skeeter/.
Students learn how viruses invade host cells and hijack the hosts' cell-reproduction mechanisms in order to make new viruses, which can in turn attack additional host cells. Students also learn how the immune system responds to a viral invasion, eventually defeating the viruses -- if all goes well. Finally, they consider the special case of HIV, in which the virus' host cell is a key component of the immune system itself, severely crippling it and ultimately leading to AIDS. The associated activity, Tracking a Virus, sets the stage for this lesson with a dramatic simulation that allows students to see for themselves how quickly a virus can spread through a population, and then challenges students to determine who the initial bearers of the virus were.
Subject:
Mathematics and Statistics, Science and Technology
This BioBulletin Web site takes an in-depth look at the West Nile virus. The site includes text, videos, photographs, and interviews with key scientists. Tracking an Epidemic reports on how the link was made between sick crows and people during the summer of 1999 in New York City. West Nile Q&A answers more than 20 frequently asked questions, including "What is the West Nile virus?", "How did the virus reach the United States?", and "How can I protect myself from getting West Nile virus?"Taking on West Nile tracks the efforts of scientists and officials to study and combat the virus in the year following the New York City outbreak. Mosquito Hunting, with text, photos, and audio, shows the work of an entomologist and her team of students as they look for the potential vectors of the virus.
No restrictions on your remixing, redistributing, or making derivative works.
Give credit to the author, as required.
Your remixing, redistributing, or making derivatives works comes with some
restrictions, including how it is shared.
Your redistributing comes with some restrictions. Do not remix or make
derivative works.
Copyrighted materials, available under Fair Use and the TEACH Act for US-based
educators, or other custom arrangements. Go to the resource provider to see
their individual restrictions.
