http://www.teachengineering.org/view_lesson.php?url=collection/duk_/lessons/duk_virus_mary_less/duk_virus_mary_less.xmllessontext/xmlViral HijackersEngineering K-Ph.D. Program, virusimmune systemHIVAIDSepidemiologyHIVencephalitisbacteriophageStudents 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.
Biomedical engineers and pharmacologists are currently trying to develop a cure for AIDS. An understanding of the mechanisms behind the disease are crucial to develop vaccine.
students will be able to describe what a virus is students will be able to give examples of diseases caused by viruses students will be able to explain how a virus replicates itself once it attaches to a host cell students will be able to describe how the immune system responds to a viral invasion students will be able to explain why the HIV virus is unique and not readily eliminated by the immune system 1TeachEngineering.orgMary R. Hebrank (Project Writer and Consultant), Pratt School of Engineering, Duke Universityhttp://www.teachengineering.org/collection/duk_/lessons/duk_virus_mary_less/aidssurvey.pdfhttp://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/hivinf.htmS10284BANorth_CarolinaScience1.05 Analyze evidence to:<br />• Explain observations.77S10284C9North_CarolinaScience1.10 Analyze and evaluate information from a scientifically literate viewpoint by reading, hearing, and/or viewing:<br />• Scientific text.77S102853CNorth_CarolinaScience1.05 Analyze evidence to:<br />• Explain observations.88S102854DNorth_CarolinaScience1.10 Analyze and evaluate information from a scientifically literate viewpoint by reading, hearing, and/or viewing:<br />• Scientific text.88S10285CCNorth_CarolinaScience7.02 Describe diseases caused by microscopic biological hazards including:<br />• Viruses.88S10285D1North_CarolinaScience7.03 Analyze data to determine trends or patterns to determine how an infectious disease may spread including:<br />• Carriers.88United StatesCopyright 2012 - Engineering K-Ph.D. Program, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke Universityhttp://www.teachengineering.org/policy_ipp.phphttp://www.teachengineering.org/2008-09-268Teacher