SC Standard
7.2.3
Compare the body shapes of bacteria
* Spiral
* Coccus
* Bacillus
Project Details
Background Information & Student
Requirements:
Students will research one bacterial
pathogen and produce a “Wanted
Poster.”
Students will then act as the
Investigator, solving the crime of
WHAT CAUSED IT ….
Determining what bacteria is
responsible for their disease
List of Possible Pathogens
and Diseases
PATHOGEN(S)
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Bacillus anthracis
Bordetella pertussis
Clostridium botulinum
Clostridium perfringens
Clostridium tetani
Corynebacterium
diphtheria
Mycobacterium leprae
Mycobacterium
tuberculosis
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Rickettsia richettsii
Rickettsia prowazekii
Salmonella typhi
Treponema pallidum
Treponema pertenue
Vibrio cholerae
Yersinia pestis
DISEASE CAUSED
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Anthrax
Whooping Cough
Botulism
Gas Gangrene
Tetanus
Diphtheria
Leprosy (Hansen’s
Disease)
Tuberculosis
Gonorrhea
Rocky Mountain
Spotted Fever
Typhus
Typhoid Fever
Syphilis
Yaws
Cholera
Bubonic Plague
Project Description
Information
1. “Photo" (electron micrograph or microscopic
picture/diagram)
2. Description - include Gram stain
3. Organism's m.o. (police jargon) (How the
organism attacks and spreads)
4. Most common victims to prey upon
5. Hide out of the culprit (where it is most likely to
be found)
6. Most common injury done to victim
7. Is it considered armed and dangerous? rate the
degree of damage caused
8. Number of victims (Include if men, women or
children)
9. Most effective weapons against the germ
10. Any other identifying characteristics (such as
tattoos)
11. How diagnosed, treated, and possible
complications, etc.
Bordetella pertussis
By Federal
Disease Investigators
$$$ 100,000 REWARD $$$
This is a
stick up…
Name: Bordetella pertussis
Description: the bacterium Bordetella pertussis causes Whooping Cough. B. pertussis is a very small
Gram-negative aerobic coccobacillus that appears singly or in pairs.
M.O: There are two stages of whooping cough. During the initial stage ,an infected person has symptoms
characteristic of an upper respiratory infection, including runny nose, sneezing, fever, or a mild occasional
cough. It is during the second stage that patients experience a burst of rapid coughs usually accompanied by
a characteristic high-pitched "whoop."
Common Victims: Young infants and children, but adults can develop the disease
Hide Out Spot: Lungs and airways
Most Effective Treatment Method(s): Antibiotic therapy
Armed and Dangerous…Approach with Extreme Caution!!!
Rickettsia richettsii
By Federal Disease Investigators
$$$ 50,000 REWARD $$$
I’m your worst
nightmare
Disease
Vector
Bacteria
Name: Rickettsia richettsii
Description: Rickettsia richettsii is the cause of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The Rickettsiae are small,
Gram-negative, aerobic, coccobacilli that are obligate intracellular parasites of eukaryotic cells. They may
reside in the cytoplasm or within the nucleus of the cell they invade.
M.O: Rickettsia rickettsii is found in the Americas and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected
ticks. The bacterium infects human vascular endothelial cells, producing an inflammatory response. Symptoms
usually develop 2-14 days after tick bite and can include chills, fever, headache, muscle pain and trademark
bulls eye rash.
Common Victims: Anyone with access to the outdoors, specifically heavily wooded areas.
Hide Out Spot: Anywhere on the skin (Warm snuggly places)
Most Effective Treatment Method(s): Careful removal of the tick from the skin and antibiotics to eliminate
infection.
Armed and Dangerous…Approach with Extreme Caution!!!
Streptococcus pneumoniae
By Federal Disease Investigators
$$$ 25,000 REWARD $$$
Ready or not,
here I come…
Name: Streptococcus pneumoniae
Description: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a normal inhabitant of the human upper respiratory tract.
Streptococcus pneumoniae cells are Gram-positive pairs of cocci (diplococci), but they may also occur singly
and in short chains.
M.O: Symptoms may include fever, chills, headache, ear pain, cough, chest pain, disorientation, shortness of
breath and occasionally stiff neck.
Common Victims: Although anyone can get pneumococcal disease(s), it is most common among young
children, the elderly, or among people with serious underlying medical conditions.
Hide Out Spot: Upper respiratory tract, specifically lungs.
Most Effective Treatment Method(s): Powerful antibiotic therapy
Armed and Dangerous…Approach with Extreme Caution!!!
Treponema pallidum
By Federal Disease Investigators
$$$ 1,000,000 REWARD $$$
Name: Treponema pallidum
Description: Treponema pallidum is a spirochete bacterium that causes syphilis. It is not seen on a Gram
Stain smear because the organism is too thin. Transmission occurs by sexual contact and from mother to fetus
across the placenta.
M.O: The primary stage of syphilis is usually marked by the appearance of a single sore (called a chancre),
but there may be multiple sores. Skin rash and mucous membrane lesions characterize the secondary stage.
This stage typically starts with the development of a rash on one or more areas of the body. The rash usually
does not cause itching.
Common Victims: Babies (passed during birth from mother), teenagers and adults engaged in risky
behavior(s)
Hide Out Spot: External genitals, vagina, anus, rectum, lips or even mouth.
Most Effective Treatment Method(s): Antibiotic therapy, but reoccurrence is possible
Armed and Dangerous…Approach with Extreme Caution!!!