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Ecological levels of organization
Community Ecology: Organism
Epidemiology
Species
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Community ecology Our community
•Community – collection of all species living within a • Species groups that are present:
specific geographic location that may interact with • Humans
• Domesticated animals
each other (pg. 317) • Wild animals
• Plants
• Community ecology – the study of interactions • Fungi (some are pathogens)
• Protists (some are pathogens)
among and between species (i.e. biotic • Viruses (all are pathogens)
interactions), and between species and the • Bacteria
environment (i.e. abiotic interactions), and how those • The most abundant group of organisms in our
community
interactions affect community structure • YOU HAVE MORE BACTERIA LIVING IN YOUR BODY THAN
THERE ARE CELLS PRESENT IN YOUR BODY!
• Some are pathogens
Epidemiology Germ Theory of Disease
• Early physicians believed
the study of factors affecting diseases were caused by
“miasmas” or clouds of
the health and illness of poisonous air.
populations • The Germ Theory states that
many microorganisms cause
infectious diseases.
• Not well accepted until Louis
Pasteur’s experiments in the
1850s
• Sparked a medical revolution
that led to discovery of viruses
(1890s) and widespread use of
vaccines
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Pathogen Virus
• Not considered a living thing
A microorganism that causes disease in its host
• Virus - No metabolism
• Bacterium - Requires a host cell to replicate itself
• Protozoan • Tiny; much smaller than bacteria
• Fungus, etc. - Basic structure includes a bundle of genetic
material (DNA/RNA) and a few protein coats
The host may be an animal, plant,
fungus, or another microorganism.
Bacteriophage viruses Bacteriophage HIV
Blight infection on a potato plant attacking a bacterial cell
Examples of Viral Diseases:
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Common cold
Influenza (the flu)
West Nile Virus
Chicken pox
Antiviral Drugs Vaccinations – How do they work?
• Like antibiotics, antiviral drugs are made specifically for • Many vaccines contain non-infectious (killed or
a single viral pathogen. inactivated) forms of a pathogen. The two most common
COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) contain
• Unlike antibiotics, an antiviral drug cannot destroy its messenger RNA (mRNA). CDC coronavirus mRNA vaccines
target virus, but rather interrupts development. • Vaccines are preventative. They are intended to build
• Because the virus is located inside the host’s cell, resistance before a person becomes exposed.
antiviral drugs tend to harm the host as well. • A vaccinated person’s immune system will keep a record
• Often makes patients feel sicker. of the microorganism, thereby improving immunity
• Thus, making safe and effective antiviral drugs is difficult. against future infection.
• Vaccines are not used to treat
infections.
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Vaccinations – Are they safe?
• There is a lot of controversy surrounding vaccines because
some contain toxic ingredients, and there is not enough
data on long-term health consequences.
• One publication argued that the MMR vaccine causes
autism, but that hypothesis was rejected because the
experiment was biased. [Link]
• Most doctors advocate for their use, because they have
led to rapid declines in many infectious diseases (like
smallpox and polio) over the last century.
• The U.S. federal government’s Center for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) recommends that we immunize our
children, ourselves as adults, and the elderly.
Bacteria Examples of bacterial infections in humans:
Simple, single -
celled organisms Strep throat
known as -Caused by Streptococcus species
prokaryotes
Staph (many types)
No nucleus or -Caused by Staphylococcus species
membrane - bound -MRSA is a dangerous antibiotic-resistant strain
organelles
Tetanus
Typical structure of a bacterium
Singular: bacterium
Food poisoning
Antibiotics The Bubonic Plague
• Antibiotic drugs such as penicillin harm bacteria by
interfering with their enzymes; they don’t harm • Between 1346 and 1350
human cells. A.D., more than 25 million
• Bacteria are highly adaptable, and can rapidly evolve people in Asia and Europe
to become “antibiotic resistant” (like MRSA). were killed by the plague.
• The resistance trend is made worse by doctors who • Plague is caused by the
over-prescribe antibiotics, patients who don’t take the bacterium Yersinia pestis.
drug as directed, and farmers who overuse antibiotics in
animal feeds. • The bacterium was
transferred from rodents to
humans by flea bites.
• The fleas were the vector, or
the carrier who transferred
the pathogen to the host.
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Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) Local Infection
Rates
• Include syphilis, HIV, HPV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, etc.
• Definition from [Link]: Sexually transmitted diseases • For chlamydia, HIV,
STDs are passed from one person to another through and gonorrhea
intimate physical contact – such as heavy petting – and • The first column to
from sexual activity including vaginal, oral, and anal sex. the right is for
STDs are very common. In fact, CDC estimates 20 million Putnam County,
new infections occur every year in the United States. then TN, and the
• Anyone can become infected U.S. (2012)
• People with STI/STDs are not “dirty” or “bad”
• Some individuals are infected after only ONE sexual
experience
Chlamydia Genital Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• The most commonly reported STD in the U.S. • The most common STD caused by a virus in the United States.
• Caused by infection with bacteria
• Most cases of cervical cancer in the U.S. are caused by HPV.
• About 1.6 million cases in 2016 ([Link])
• Symptoms can go unseen; most people who become infected with
• Infection rates are highest in the South
HPV do not even know they have it.
• Sexually active females 25 years old and younger need • Condoms provide virtually no protection against it.
testing every year. • The CDC recommends that boys and girls age 11 – 12 receive the
• It’s easy to cure using oral antibiotics, but chlamydia can HPV vaccine.
impact a woman’s ability to have children if left • The original Gardasil vaccine caused adverse reactions in certain
untreated. people with autoimmune disorders. There is a new, safer version,
called Gardasil 9. [Link]
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Sexual Decision Making – Ask yourself:
• The virus that causes AIDS 1. Am I following my personal beliefs and values?
• May be transmitted through sex, 2. Do we both want the same thing (casual sex, relationship, etc.)?
childbirth, or sharing syringes
3. How will I feel about this tomorrow?
(needles)
4. Am I letting alcohol, drug use, self-esteem, or peer pressure
• Attacks the immune system affect my decision?
• According to the CDC, 973,846 5. Have my partner and I talked about possible consequences,
people were living with HIV infection such as STIs and pregnancy?
in the U.S. at the end of 2015.
6. Will a condom protect me from STIs?
• Roughly half of these are in the South.
7. Is this consensual?
• There is no cure.
• There is no vaccine, but a
** If you don’t feel 100% sure; do not take the risk **
preventative PrEP pill is available for
people with high risk.
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Prevention & Help Prevention & Help
Testing is easy, locally available, and discrete. People are here on campus to help you cope.
TTU Health Services Putnam County Health Dept. The Counseling Center The Women’s Center
• Can test for any STD/STI • Free HIV testing • All FREE services • Not just for women!
• Urine tests at no charge • Can test for any STD/STI • Personal Counseling • Excellent source for a
• Blood tests for a fee • Can bill insurance • Crisis Services variety of information,
• Free condoms • If requested, will bill as resources, & a place to
confidential on parent’s • Couples/Marital
• No insurance taken insurance
express your concerns
• Substance Abuse without fears
• Make an appointment: • Make an appointment:
• 931-372-3320 • 931-528-2531
• Support Groups • Go check them out
• Make an appointment: • 931-372-3850
• 931-372-3331 • Room 339 in the UC
• Room 307 in the UC
Simulated Virus Transmission Simulated Virus Transmission
• In today’s lab we will exchange fictional “body fluids” to simulate • FIRST, remove a small sample and
transmission of a disease. place into your microcentrifuge tube.
• Please listen carefully and TAKE NOTES about the experiment Set aside.
design and results!
• SECOND, exchange fluid from the BIG Do NOT
tube with three different people. share your
• 3 squirts in tube; shake; 3 squirts back pipet!
• Record partners in order on data sheet.
• THIRD, see TA for testing.
Testing for the Fictitious Disease
• Iodine is the testing reagent.
• A positive result is a color change reaction that means
your sample is infected.
• A negative result is no color change; your sample of
fluid is not infected.