Group Presentations

You will join a group of 2-3 students and research a disorder/disease of the immune system.  The goal is to understand the immune system and be able to explain the immune response to a particular insult or injury. 

Each group will give a 10-15 minute presentation in lab during the dates listed on the course calendar.  Be prepared to answer questions and facilitate a discussion. DO NOT HAND IN A PAPER.

• TOPICS – Choose a disorder/disease of the immune system from the list of diseases below. You will be graded on how well you explain (and understand) the role of the immune system in the disease process.

• Please tell me your topic by Feb 9/11.  Along with your topic, please submit the (first and last) names of the group members.

• It is important that you draw from reliable scientific information and turn in a list of references (see below).  

• Use VISUAL AIDS – posters, pictures, charts, Powerpoint presentations, etc. The most effective visual aids use pictures, phrases and "bullet points"; avoid long sentences and slides filled with words.

•  Every member of the group must participate in the presentation to receive credit.

DISEASES/DISORDERS

1. AIDS - how does the immune system respond to HIV infection?
2. Tuberculosis - explain the immune response in the latent and active disease. 
3. Allergic reactions - anaphylactic reactions
4. Allergic reactions - tissue rejection
5. Allergic reactions - rheumatoid arthritis
6. Allergic reactions - delayed hypersensitivity (poison oak, etc)
7. Autoimmune diseases - Graves disease
8. Autoimmune diseases - myasthenia gravis
9. Autoimmune diseases - type I diabetes
10. Infectious mononucleosis
11. Systemic lupus erythematosus
12. Influenza (viral infection)
13. Cervical cancer – HPV vaccine
14. Syphilis (bacterial infection)
15. Polio (viral infection)

Evaluation (25 pts)

WHAT TO INCLUDE	POSSIBLE POINTS
Introduction: Introduce yourselves. Briefly describe the pathogen (if any) and disorder/disease. Explain the biological concepts needed to understand the disease. Give us an overview – tell us what you're going to tell us.	3
Biological background: Describe the disease and give an overview of symptoms and current therapies. What causes the disease? What organ system(s) is affected?  How common is the disease?	3
Cellular/molecular mechanisms: Describe what is known about this disease at the cellular and molecular level. Explain how the immune system responds to the pathogen.  Which lines of defense are involved and/or compromised: nonspecific immunity? cell-mediated immunity?  antibody-mediated immunity?	5
Conclusion: Tie things together.  Summarize the role of the immune system in the disease process. Make a summary chart that shows the nonspecific and specific defense mechanisms involved.  Turn in your summary chart (3 pts)	5
Oral Presentation: Presentation was well organized and information easy to understand. Effective use of visual aids;  eye contact maintained with the audience (rather than reading from notes).	5
References: Turn in a typed reference page listing at least 4 references (review articles, scientific magazines, newspapers, internet sites (only URLs that end in .edu, .gov or .org are acceptable). At least one reference should be a scientific magazine.	4
YOUR TOTAL POINTS	25

 

Contact