Assignments

Self-study: Review of Important Pathogens

We would like you to complete the Selected Infectious Disease Images program prior to April 11 in order to gain some familiarity with the important pathogenic microorganisms and common infections that will be discussed in this course and that you may see in your employment:

Completion of this program is expected and will help you put in context the antimicrobials used in treatment of infections caused by these pathogens.

Selected Infectious Disease Images

The Selected Infectious Disease Images program is available at http://courses.washington.edu/medch401/private/infectiousdiseases/

Directions:

1. After having viewed the "Images" program, go to https://catalysttools.washington.edu/survey/jeaninek/51929
2. You will have to log in with your UW net ID
   There are 8 easy questions. Take it as many times as needed to get 100%. Your scores will automatically be recorded.
   

You must pass the quiz associated with this program prior to April 11.

Research Paper and Presentation

As a requirement for this course, you are asked to write a succinct research report on some aspect of antimicrobials or immunizing agents. You and 3 or 4 other group members will present a summary of your findings to the class. We will assign (random selection) the composition of the groups.

Each group member should independently write their own written research report.

Grading: This paper will be graded on the basis of 50 points. Each member of the group will be graded independently on the oral presentation which will also consist of 50 points. It will be important to rehearse your talk so each group member will make a good contribution.

The following will be helpful:

1. The paper is requested to be about 3 double-spaced typed pages (not including a title page and reference list). A list of suggested topics is provided below, but you do not need to select one from this list. Obtain approval from Teaching Assistant, Mimi Nguyen, for your choice of topic. For each conference session there will be only one group per topic. Assume the reader of the paper and your audience is a health professional with a working knowledge of infectious diseases. The information you provide should be up-to-date and relevant to therapy.
2. Do a computer PubMed literature search to obtain a complete list of relevant references on your topic. The HS Library staff can help you get started if you are not familiar with the online databases.
3. Read the relevant references. Your charge is to find the most recent important information on your topic. Textbooks and review articles may be helpful but are usually dated so you will need to "go beyond" these in your paper. Internet databases, e.g. UpToDate, are helpful but you must do a literature search and read the primary literature on your topic. You have all had Pharm 500, so follow the general guidelines that you learned in that course. The biggest problem we have had with the 401 student papers has been inadequate and improper referencing. Please talk to us if you are uncertain on referencing a research paper. DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. PUT THE PAPER IN YOUR OWN WORDS BUT BACK FACTUAL INFORMATION PRESENTED WITH REFERENCE CITATIONS! VIOLATORS WILL GET A ZERO ON THE PAPER!
4. Use the following outline in preparing your paper.
   • Title page
   • Introduction
   • Research Findings
   • Conclusions and Suggestions for Future Study
   • References

Note: The Introduction, Findings, and Conclusions should be about 3 pages in length. Only list the relevant references that you have read.

Please, no fancy plastic folders; just staple the paper together. The paper is due on the day of your presentation.

Format for references:

Use the format for references outlined in the Pharm 500 course website at http://courses.washington.edu/pharm500.

List of Suggested Topics

• Vancomycin resistance in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
• Vancomycin resistant Enterococcus (VREC)
• New fluoroquinolones under development (not yet approved)
• Mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in Neisseria gonorrhea
• Multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis
• Mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis
• Mechanisms of resistance in Pseudomonas species
• New, investigational antimicrobials (pick one to research)
• Antibiotic animal feeds: what is the evidence to acquistion of resistant pathogens in humans?
• What is the best antibiotic regimen for gastric ulcers
• Mannan synthesis inhibitors-a promising group of antifungals
• Vaccines against HIV
• Vaccines against malaria
• Vaccines against melanoma
• Vaccines against rabies
• Development of vaccines against Helicobacter pylori
• Lyme disease vaccine
• Hepatitis A vaccine
• DNA vaccines
• Development of a Shigella vaccine
• Efforts to improve typhoid vaccines
• Vaccines against cytomegalovirus
• Vaccines against the Epstein-Barr virus
• Development of a vaccine against leprosy
• Yellow fever vaccine
• Development of a vaccine against the Herpes virus
• Vaccines against group A Streptococci
• Mold allergies: what's the real story?
• Development and improvement of vaccines against tuberculosis
• Plague vaccines
• Bioterrorism vaccines: smallpox
• Bioterrorism vaccines: anthrax
• Bioterrorism: treatments: smallpox
• Bioterrorism treatments: anthrax
• Vaccines for Alzheimer's disease
• Vaccines for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
• Antibiotic/antimicrobial peptides (not daptomycin)
• Vaccines to prevent Staphlococcus aureus infections
• Superantigens
• Streptococcus virulence factors and potential for vaccines and inhibitor design
• Transgenic plants and edible vaccines
• Ebola virus infections
• West Nile Fever infections
• Management of E. coli O157:H7 infection
• Potent new azoles (not yet approved)
• Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
• Connections between autism and MMR?
• Avian flu virus
• Viruses and type 1 diabetes
• Treatment of schistosomiasis
• New approaches for malaria treatment
• Rifaximin for hepatic encephalopathy
• Rifaximin for recurrent clostridium difficile disease
• Antibiotics for irritable bowel syndrome?
• New glycopeptide antibiotics under development
• Treatment of septic shock
• Treatment implications of ampC beta-lactamase
• Treatment of XDR-TB
• Treatment of bite wounds

MEDCH 401/561P Presentation Groups for Presentations

Tuesday Section AA

Thursday Morning Section AB

Thursday Afternoon Section AC