Let’s face it - taking a class in Microbiology can elicit a mild case of Mysophobia (aka a germaphobe – someone with a strange affliction to germs) as you learn about the different ways you can acquire diseases from various sources. Suddenly, the guy coughing on the bus appears to be an incubator teeming with pathogens. The health department’s latest report on unsanitary restaurant conditions takes on a new meaning when you consider what could happen following transmission of fecal material to food or beverages.Humans acquire diseases via many different routes, but the transmission can be classified as contact, indirect contact, or vectors. It is important to know how diseases are transmitted so that preventative measures can be taken to avoid infecting large numbers of people.In this week’s discussion board, we will explore some of your daily interactions with potentially infected people or objects. Answer the questions below to complete the discussion question requirements for the week.The discussion board is a great place to learn in an interactive environment, so be sure to participate actively in the weekly discussion. By doing so, the entire class benefits from the discussion and learning is significantly enhanced. To receive full credit for your posts, be sure that your posts are at least 50 words long and provide solid details or examples that move the discussion forward. It is highly recommended that you draft your responses in a Word document so that you may spell-check your post. You can then copy and paste your response into the discussion. This will also allow you to save your responses should you get timed out or experience other technical difficulties.DiscussionGive a recent example of a time when you came into close contact with a potentially infected person or object. What type of illness were you potentially exposed to? What symptoms would you possibly develop if you became infected?Field trip! Go into a public bathroom (or two) and observe the number of people that do not wash their hands before leaving. What percentage of people do NOT want to wash their hands? Would you approach a person that does not wash their hands? What might you say?With the bathroom example as a background, its easy to see that humans are unknowingly exposed to dozens of potential pathogens each day. Think of all the stuff that people touch and carry around on their hands! Why do we not get sick more often? Offer at least 2 factors that protect us from most of these pathogens.

PLEASE FOLLOW THE RUBRICThe scientific method is useful in problem solving and decision-making in a wide variety of fields. In this assignment, you will demonstrate how to use the scientific method to make decisions and solve problems in your field of study or everyday life.Write a three to five (3-5) page paper in which you:Explain the scientific method and describe the overall manner in which you would apply it in your field of study or everyday life.Identify a specific problem often faced in your field of study or everyday life. Research your problem and assess your data / research. Examples of such problems could be:BusinessDeveloping a new product that is superior to competitor’s brands; orEstablishing a price for a new product using the law of supply and demand;Information Systems and TechnologyThe use of personal electronic devices for work purpose, orDetermining in the most cost-effective computer for your business;Criminal JusticeThe reliability of eyewitness testimony, orDetermining what evidence is revealing to you about a crime;Everyday lifeSelecting a particular brand of detergent, orDetermining the most cost efficient transportation/route for your commute.Propose one (1) testable hypothesis to explain / solve the problem. State the expected outcomes of your actions and include criteria for determining whether or not these actions would succeed. Note: Your hypothesis should be stated very precisely.Describe the main actions that you intend to put into place to test your hypothesis that you proposed in Question 3. Describe the way in which you would evaluate the success of your program. Include the results that you would deem as a success and the results that would be considered a failure.Discuss the wisdom behind the strategy you used to test the hypothesis from Question 4, and describe the additional steps you might take depending on the results of your test. Note: These additional steps might be to revise your original hypothesis (if the results were unsatisfactory) or to propose new hypotheses. The goal is to continuously improve your understanding of the factors influencing your outcomes, to be able to achieve greater results over time. Use at least two (2) quality resources / references in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and personal blogs do not qualify as quality resources. The body of the paper must have in-text citations that correspond to the references. Integrate all sources into your paper using proper techniques of quoting, paraphrasing and summarizing, along with proper use of in-text citations to credit your sources.Your report must follow these formatting requirements:Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:Apply concepts in physical sciences to evaluate current trends and issues in the modern world.Describe the physical processes influencing climate and weather, including the roles of natural and anthropogenic activity on climate.Use technology and information resources to research issues in physical sciences.Write clearly and concisely about physical sciences using proper writing mechanics.Points: 160Assignment 1: Applications of the Scientific MethodCriteriaUnacceptableBelow 60% FMeets Minimum Expectations60-69% DFair70-79% CProficient80-89% BExemplary90-100% A1. Explain the scientific method and describe the overall manner in which you would apply it in your field of study or everyday life.Weight: 15%Did not submit or incompletely explained the scientific method and described the overall manner in which you would apply it in your field of study or everyday life.Insufficiently explained the scientific method and described the overall manner in which you would apply it in your field of study or everyday life.Partially explained the scientific method and described the overall manner in which you would apply it in your field of study or everyday life.Satisfactorily explained the scientific method and described the overall manner in which you would apply it in your field of study or everyday life.Thoroughly explained the scientific method and described the overall manner in which you would apply it in your field of study or everyday life.2. Identify a specific problem often faced in your field of study or everyday life. Research your problem and assess your data / research. Weight: 20%Did not submit or incompletely identified a specific problem often faced in your field of study or everyday life. Did not submit or incompletely researched your problem and assessed your data / researchInsufficiently identified a specific problem often faced in your field of study or everyday life. Insufficiently researched your problem and assessed your data / researchPartially identified a specific problem often faced in your field of study or everyday life. Partially researched your problem and assessed your data / researchSatisfactorily identified a specific problem often faced in your field of study or everyday life. Satisfactorily researched your problem and assessed your data / researchThoroughly identified a specific problem often faced in your field of study or everyday life. Thoroughly researched your problem and assessed your data / research3. Propose one (1) testable hypothesis to explain / solve the problem. State the expected outcomes of your actions and include criteria for determining whether or not these actions would succeed. Weight: 15%Did not submit or incompletely proposed one (1) testable hypothesis to explain / solve the problem. Did not submit or incompletely stated the expected outcomes of your actions and included criteria for determining whether or not these actions would succeed.Insufficiently proposed one (1) testable hypothesis to explain / solve the problem. Insufficiently stated the expected outcomes of your actions and included criteria for determining whether or not these actions would succeed.Partially proposed one (1) testable hypothesis to explain / solve the problem. Partially stated the expected outcomes of your actions and included criteria for determining whether or not these actions would succeed.Satisfactorily proposed one (1) testable hypothesis to explain / solve the problem. Satisfactorily stated the expected outcomes of your actions and included criteria for determining whether or not these actions would succeed.Thoroughly proposed one (1) testable hypothesis to explain / solve the problem. Thoroughly stated the expected outcomes of your actions and included criteria for determining whether or not these actions would succeed.4. Describe the main actions that you intend to put into place to test your hypothesis that you proposed in Question 3. Describe the way in which you would evaluate the success of your program. Include the results that you would deem as a success and the results that would be considered a failure. Weight: 20%Did not submit or incompletely described the main actions that you intended to put into place to test the hypothesis that you proposed in Question 3. Did not submit or incompletely described the way in which you would evaluate the success of you program. Did not submit or incompletely included the results that you would deem as e a success and the results that would be considered a failure.Insufficiently described the main actions that you intended to put into place to test the hypothesis that was proposed in Question 3. Insufficiently described the way in which you would evaluate the success of your program. Insufficiently included the results that you would deem as a success and the results that would be considered a failure.Partially described the main actions that you intended to put into place to test the hypothesis that was proposed in Question 3. Partially described the way in which you would evaluate the success of your program. Partially included the results that you would deem as a success and the results that would be considered a failure.Satisfactorily described the main actions that you intended to put into place to test the hypothesis that was proposed in Question 3. Satisfactorily described the way in which you would evaluate the success of your program. Satisfactorily included the results that you would deem as a success and the results that would be considered a failure.Thoroughly described the main actions that you intended to put into place to test the hypothesis that was proposed in Question 3. Thoroughly described the way in which you would evaluate the success of your program. Thoroughly included the results that you would deem as a success and the results that would be considered a failure.5. Discuss the wisdom behind the strategy you used to test the hypothesis from Question 4, and describe the additional steps you might take depending on the results of your test. Weight: 5%Did not submit or incompletely discussed the wisdom behind the strategy you used to test the hypothesis from Question 4, and described the additional steps you might take depending on the results of their test.Insufficiently discussed the wisdom behind the strategy you used to test the hypothesis from Question 4, and described the additional steps you might take depending on the results of their test.Partially discussed the wisdom behind the strategy you used to test the hypothesis from Question 4, and described the additional steps you might take depending on the results of their test.Satisfactorily discussed the wisdom behind the strategy you used to test the hypothesis from Question 4, and described the additional steps you might take depending on the results of their test.Thoroughly discussed the wisdom behind the strategy you used to test the hypothesis from Question 4, and described the additional steps you might take depending on the results of their test.6. Writing / Support for ideasWeight: 5%Never uses reasons and evidence that logically support ideas.Rarely uses reasons and evidence that logically support ideas.Partially uses reasons and evidence that logically support ideas.Mostly uses reasons and evidence that logically support ideas.Consistently uses reasons and evidence that logically support ideas. 7. Writing / Grammar and mechanics5%Serious and persistent errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.Numerous errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.Partially free of errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.Mostly free of errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.Free of errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.8. Writing and Information Literacy / Integration of SourcesWeight: 5%Serious errors in the integration of sources, such as intentional or accidental plagiarism or failure to use in-text citations.Sources are rarely integrated using effective techniques of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing, using in-text citations.Sources are partially integrated using effective techniques of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing, using in-text citations.Sources are mostly integrated using effective techniques of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing, using in-text citations.Sources are consistently integrated using effective techniques of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing, using in-text citations.9. Information Literacy / Crediting Sources in APAWeight: 5%Lack of citations and / or lack of reference section and / or citations don’t correspond to listed references.In-text citations and references are given, but not in APA format.Partially shows correct (or approximately correct) use of in-text citations, with matching references using APA-format.Mostly shows correct use of in-text citations with matching references using APA-format.Consistently shows correct use of In-text citations with matching references using APA-format.10. Information Literacy / ResearchWeight: 5%Quantity and / or quality of sources are unacceptable.Too few references and / or references are of poor quality.Number of sources is less than expected (< 2) and / or the quality of sources is questionable. Number of sources is sufficient (at least 2) and the quality of sources is mostly good. Number of sources is sufficient (at least 2) and the quality of sources is good. 

Microbiology encompasses many aspects of pathogens and human reactions to infections. This project will allow you to trace pathogens through the infection cycle and human response to the infection.Project requirements: Refer to Table 1.1 and answer the following questions for 2 of the 3 organisms listed. Word requirements are outlined for each question - this represents a minimum number of words required. For each question answer in full and complete sentences, and provide both examples and scientific evidence to support your answer. Be sure to include a well-developed introduction and conclusion in your paper.You may use outside sources, but the reading material for Units 7 and 8 should provide the majority of information you will need to complete the assignment. Be sure to include all references in APA format.OrganismStrategy to avoid host immune systemCommon diseaseTrypanosoma cruziChanges surface antigens to avoid immune system detectionAmerican trypanosomiasisHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV)Virus infects and hides in macrophages and CD4 T-cells.Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)Streptococcus pyogenesProduce M proteins to inhibit phagocytes from attachingStreptococcal pharyngitisTable 1.1Questions:Give a brief overview of the disease including signs and symptoms. Who is typically affected by this infection?(Children? Immunocompromised patients?)? What is the pathogens’ portal of entry and exit? (100 word minimum)How would the innate immune system react to this pathogen? Which components would react? (75 word minimum)Would this pathogen primarily stimulate cell-mediated immunity or antibody-mediated immunity (T cells or B cells?) Why? (75 word minimum)All of the organisms listed above have the ability to evade the host immune system, at least temporarily. Review Table 1.1 for the pathogens’ strategies used to avoid the host’s immune system. Why is this particular strategy helpful to the pathogen? How would this impact the pathogens’ ability to cause infection? How would the immune system compensate? (200 word minimum)