Follow along as you read 3.1.3 in your PLTW Textbook
3.1.3-Modes of Transmission–Complete all sections, in your own words.
All answers need to be in blue font, please.
Activity 3.1.3 - Modes of Transmission
Essential Questions
How does an immune system identify and eradicate infection?
Summarize the goals of this part of this activity:
Contagion
You have reviewed the profiles for the 11 patients currently suffering from an undiagnosed infectious
disease. Each of these patients was initially admitted to the hospital for reasons unrelated to this mysterious
illness. You have now drafted a hypothesis about which type of agent of disease may be responsible for this
outbreak.
Before you attempt to identify the specific organism making the patients sick, you and the Disease Defense
Team, the DDT, need to know how the infection is spreading. Once you have this piece of information, you
can devise a way to stop it from infecting more patients.
Having an understanding of how infectious agents spread, enter a host, and how the host defends itself
from infection is a top priority. To begin, you need to review the ways in which infectious agents can be
transmitted and try to determine how these 11 patients contracted one. You will then investigate how the
human body can defend against infection and look for ways to prevent other patients from becoming
infected.
The Chain of Infection
Infectious agents are always on the lookout for a susceptible host, one that is vulnerable to infection. They
are searching for a place to call home. Unfortunately, their needs often result in our illness, and that is why it
is so important for us to stop them. You have learned what types of organisms can cause illness, but where
do they come from and how do they spread?
With your investigative team, discuss the following and record your ideas. Then share your thoughts with
your table group..
What are some possible sources of
infectious agents? In other words,
where can they be found?
, How are infectious agents spread
from host to host?
An infection can occur when a susceptible host encounters an infectious agent. For a host to encounter an
agent, the agent must leave wherever it previously resided—its reservoir, be transmitted, and then enter the
new host. This sequence of events is called the chain of infection.
Use the diagram on the PLTW website to fill out the following images (Double click on the images to edit
them in Google Drawings:
Terminology
Use the space below to define the vocabulary terms in your own words.
Direct Contact
Indirect
Contact
3.1.3-Modes of Transmission–Complete all sections, in your own words.
All answers need to be in blue font, please.
Activity 3.1.3 - Modes of Transmission
Essential Questions
How does an immune system identify and eradicate infection?
Summarize the goals of this part of this activity:
Contagion
You have reviewed the profiles for the 11 patients currently suffering from an undiagnosed infectious
disease. Each of these patients was initially admitted to the hospital for reasons unrelated to this mysterious
illness. You have now drafted a hypothesis about which type of agent of disease may be responsible for this
outbreak.
Before you attempt to identify the specific organism making the patients sick, you and the Disease Defense
Team, the DDT, need to know how the infection is spreading. Once you have this piece of information, you
can devise a way to stop it from infecting more patients.
Having an understanding of how infectious agents spread, enter a host, and how the host defends itself
from infection is a top priority. To begin, you need to review the ways in which infectious agents can be
transmitted and try to determine how these 11 patients contracted one. You will then investigate how the
human body can defend against infection and look for ways to prevent other patients from becoming
infected.
The Chain of Infection
Infectious agents are always on the lookout for a susceptible host, one that is vulnerable to infection. They
are searching for a place to call home. Unfortunately, their needs often result in our illness, and that is why it
is so important for us to stop them. You have learned what types of organisms can cause illness, but where
do they come from and how do they spread?
With your investigative team, discuss the following and record your ideas. Then share your thoughts with
your table group..
What are some possible sources of
infectious agents? In other words,
where can they be found?
, How are infectious agents spread
from host to host?
An infection can occur when a susceptible host encounters an infectious agent. For a host to encounter an
agent, the agent must leave wherever it previously resided—its reservoir, be transmitted, and then enter the
new host. This sequence of events is called the chain of infection.
Use the diagram on the PLTW website to fill out the following images (Double click on the images to edit
them in Google Drawings:
Terminology
Use the space below to define the vocabulary terms in your own words.
Direct Contact
Indirect
Contact
