A brief but complete summary of the Global Health and Infectious Disease minor.

Summary of Global Health and infectious diseases minor

Diagnostics
Test Cost Infrastructure Training TAT Accuracy

Microscopy $ + + 1-2 hours + / ++

Culture $$$ +++ ++++ 1-2 days +++

Serology $$ ++ ++ Hours/ 1 day ++

PCR $$ / $$$$ + / ++++ + / ++++ 2 hrs / 2 days ++++


Microscopy: malaria, TB, pneumonia, meningitis
Culture: bacteria
Serology: viruses
PCR: bloody everything

Pathogen barcoding
By sequencing the genome of a pathogen, different strains and different subtypes can be found in
order to know exactly what you’re dealing with.

Vector-borne diseases
A disease transmitted by a vector. Arboviruses fall under this category. (Arbo = arthropod-borne)
Examples of vectors are:
- Mosquitoes
- Ticks They all feed on blood
- Culicoides.
Most vector-borne diseases start in animals. With the reservoir being, naturally, an animal species.
This would be an Enzootic cycle. (Animal  vector  animal)
The disease however, can jump to humans. Therefore, creating an Urban epidemic cycle (human 
vector  human).
Important concept: Vector competence – the ability of a vector to transmit the disease.

Three different types of frequent occurring arboviruses.
- Bunyaviridae  enveloped ssRNA-. Genetic material consists of three groups: L – RNA
dependent RNA polymerase. M – Viral glycoproteins. S – Nucleocapsid protein.
Replication: ssRNA-  mRNA
Exits cell via golgi exocytose.
- Flaviviridae  ssRNA+. Genetic material consists of one piece of RNA.
Replication: ssRNA+  dsRNA  mRNA
Exits cell via budding.
- Togaviridae  ssRNA+.
Replication: ssRNA+  dsRNA  mRNA
Exits cell via secretory pathway.