Health Medical Homework Help. Harvard University Microbial Growth and Metabolism Questions
Foodborne illness is any illness that is related to the ingestion of food. Often, gastrointestinal tract symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) are the most common reaction to a foodborne illness. However, this might not be true for all cases.
Major microbes that contribute to foodborne illnesses are listed below:
- Norovirus
- Salmonella
- Clostridium
- Campylobacter
- Listeria
Select one unique organism from the genus categories listed above to complete your Module 2
Essay Questions
- Find a recent (published within the past 5 years) article on a foodborne illness outbreak based on a specific microbe (bacteria or virus) within any of the genus categories provided above. Summarize the impact this organism had in the foodborne outbreak. Describe the organism involved, where the outbreak occurred (factory, restaurant, etc.) and the number of people affected.
- How is your assigned organism typically identified in outbreaks? More information can be found at the CDC PulseNet link. Discuss any relevant testing methods. Hint: Molecular testing methods are common. These will be covered more thoroughly in Module 3. Only a basic overview is needed here.
- How does this organism cause illness? What happens to the organism inside the body? (Does it reach the intestines, attach to the walls, and begin to multiply? Does it produce toxins? Does it invade deeper body tissues?) What are some common symptoms associated with this disease? (Does it cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, etc.?)
- Whom does it affect most severely? (Does it affect infants, elderly people, people with weak immune systems, etc.?)
- What are two effective methods that could be used to control or prevent this organism from causing illness? (Include your reasoning based on the organism’s growth and nutrient requirements.)
