Appendix 1: Papers selected for students’ assignments
Assignment Aim
Primer paper: used to
Paper 1
orient students to
reading a primary
research article in the
area of immunology.
Chosen to highlight
Paper 2
the application of
techniques:
Agglutination,
precipitation,
immunoprecipitation
Reference
Limited role of antibody in clearance of
Streptococcus pneumoniae in a murine model of
colonization. McCool TL, Weiser JN. Infect
Immun. 2004 Oct; 72(10):5807-13.
Paper 3
Chosen to highlight
the application of
techniques: ELISA
and SDSPAGE/Western blot.
Flagellin of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli
stimulates interleukin-8 production in T84 cells.
Zhou X, Giron JA, Torres AG, Crawford JA,
Negrete E, Vogel SN, Kaper JB. Infect Immun.
2003 Apr;71(4):2120-9.
Paper 4
Chosen to highlight
the application of
techniques: SDSPAGE/Western blot.
Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) is
serologically highly variable and is expressed by
all clinically important capsular serotypes of
Streptococcus pneumoniae. Crain MJ, Waltman
WD 2nd, Turner JS, Yother J, Talkington DF,
McDaniel LS, Gray BM, Briles DE. Infect
Immun. 1990 Oct;58(10):3293-9.
Characterization of the cross-reaction between
type 19F(19) and 19A(57) pneumococcal capsular
polysaccharides: compositional analysis and
immunological relation determined with rabbit
typing antisera. Krishnamurthy T, Lee CJ,
Henrichsen J, Carlo DJ, Stoudt TM, Robbins JB.
Infect Immun. 1978 Dec; 22(3):727-35.
Used to assess
The immune response to pneumococcal proteins
students’ level of
during experimental human carriage. McCool TL,
Cate TR, Moy G, Weiser JN. J Exp Med. 2002 Feb
competency in
4;195(3):359-65.
reading and
understanding
immunology
research articles.
Note: All papers were chosen for their relevance to the research area of Host Pathogen
Interactions using Streptococcus pneumoniae as the target organism. Each paper
illustrated good research design, standard research article format, and followed the level
of vocabulary and immunology content as it was introduced to the students in the course.
Paper 5
Appendix 2: Part 1 and 2 of the assignments for papers 2, 3, and 4.
Part 1
10 points
Below you will find background information on a research paper and under another link
under “Research Papers” you will find the introduction of that paper. You should read
both of these carefully and then answer the following
1. In your own words, what is the specific question the researchers are trying to
answer? Write this in such a way that someone who has not seen the paper would
be able to understand it. Do not paraphrase the paper!
2. Why is it important to find the answer?
3. What immunological technique(s) that you are familiar with would be necessary
to do in order to find the answer? Explain your reasoning for choosing this
(these) technique(s).
Please do not spend your time trying to find this paper on the Internet. Instead,
spend your time reading the information and then THINKING about which
technique(s) would be useful. We are not looking for the “right” answer, but to
see that you can understand the techniques and when they are needed and explain
your reasoning.
Part 2
10 points
Last week you were given the introduction of a research paper. You will now find the
entire paper under “Research Papers”. You should read the paper and then answer the
following:
1. What immunological technique(s) did the researchers use to answer the research
question?
2. Does this agree with the technique(s) that you had determined?
3. Why do you think the researchers chose this (these) technique(s) for the given
situation?
4. Do you agree with their choice or do you think there are other techniques that
would be more appropriate? If you disagree, name the technique(s) and state why
it (they) would be better.
5. Find another paper that uses one of these techniques, and give the full reference.
Appendix 3: Experimental Design Project example scenario
Herbal remedies have become very popular around the world (current world consumption
of herbal drugs and functional foods exceeds $70 billion annually) and in the United
States (the sale of national health products generated $26 billion in 1998). In the United
States, herbs are considered dietary supplements, so the Food and Drug Administration
does not regulate them, and therefore the claims of their abilities do not need to be
verified as with other drugs. Thus their potential medicinal properties must be
determined by scientific and clinical studies. Astragalus is a popular herb used in
traditional Chinese medical theory (TCM). In TCM, one of its uses is as a tonic to
enhance the immune system.
Available samples**:
Prepared Astragalus solution
White blood cells (cell lines)
Blood from healthy volunteers prior to taking Astragalus tonic for one week
Blood from healthy volunteers after taking Astragalus tonic for one week
Determine:
1) The specific research question
2) The techniques necessary to answer this question
3) The major materials needed
4) The exact protocols
**Please note: Students were told that the scenarios are authentic but the
samples with which they will work are not.
The samples are set up as mock samples – for this example:
Prepared Astragalus solution: students were provided with 5% complete
media
White blood cells: students were provided with B cells
Blood prior to taking Astragalus: students were provided with 1 mg/ml BSA
in water
Blood after taking Astragalus: students were provided with 5 mg/ml BSA in
water
Appendix 4: BSCI 423 Immunology Laboratory Post-Course Survey
1. Please think about the way that WebCT was used in this course and how you used
WebCT. What did you like the most about the use of WebCT in this course?
2. What can be improved regarding the use of WebCT?
3. How often do you access the BCSI 423 WebCT site?
a. every day 19 = 36.5%
b. every other day 22 = 42.3%
c. 1 time a week 11 = 21.2%
d. 1 time every other week
e. Never
4. Five research papers were used in this course. What did you like about the
research papers and the way that they were used?
5. What would you do to improve the use of papers in this course?
In these next five questions we are trying to gauge the level of difficulty of the paper.
6. When reading Paper 1 “Limited Role of Antibody in Clearance of Streptococcus
pneumoniae in a Murine Model of Colonization”:
a. I felt completely overwhelmed 2 = 3.8%
b. It was challenging, and I did not get the point of the paper. 4 = 7.7%
c. It was challenging, but I learned from it. 26 = 50%
d. It was straightforward. 9 = 17.3%
e. I have read many papers before, so I had no difficulty with this one. 9 =
17.3%
f. I don’t remember. 2 = 3.8%
7.
When reading Paper 2 “Characterization of the Cross-Reaction between Type
19F(19) and Type 19A(57) Pneumococcal Capsular Polysaccharides:
Compositional Analysis and Immunological Relation Determined with Rabbit
Typing Antisera”:
a. I felt completely overwhelmed. 2 = 3.8%
b. It was challenging, and I did not get the point of the paper. 8 = 15.4%
c. It was challenging, but I learned from it. 18 = 34.6%
d. It was straightforward. 16 = 30.8%
e. I have read many papers before, so I had no difficulty with this one. 8
= 15.4%
f. I don’t remember.
8.
When reading Paper 3 “Flagellin of Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli
Stimulates Interleukin-8 Production in T84 Cells”:
a. I felt completely overwhelmed.
b. It was challenging, and I did not get the point of the paper. 4 = 7.7%
c. It was challenging, but I learned from it. 24 = 46.2%
d. It was straightforward. 16 = 30.8%
e. I have read many papers before, so I had no difficulty with this one. 8 =
15.4%
f. I don’t remember.
9.
When reading Paper 4 “Pneumococcal Surface Protein A (PspA) is Serologically
Highly Variable and is Expressed by All Clinically Important Capsular Serotypes
of Streptococcus pneumoniae”:
a. I felt completely overwhelmed.
b. It was challenging, and I did not get the point of the paper. 6 = 11.5%
c. It was challenging, but I learned from it. 17 = 32.7%
d. It was straightforward. 21 = 40.4%
e. I have read many papers before, so I had no difficulty with this one. 8 =
15.4%
f. I don’t remember.
10. When reading Paper 5 “The Immune Response to Pneumococcal Proteins during
Human Experimental Carriage”:
a. I felt completely overwhelmed. 1 = 1.9%
b. It was challenging, and I did not get the point of the paper. 5 = 9.6%
c. It was challenging, but I learned from it. 5 = 9.6%
d. It was straightforward. 21 = 40.4%
e. I have read many papers before, so I had no difficulty with this one. 10 =
19.2%
f. I don’t remember.
11. The aim of Paper 1 was to share how scientific work is presented to other
scientists through a formal research paper. Choose one answer:
a. I did not know how scientific work is formally presented, and I learned
how from this assignment.
b. I did not know how scientific work is formally presented, and I did not
learn how from this assignment. 1 = 1.9%
c. I had some understanding of how scientific work is formally presented,
but I learned more from this assignment. 9 = 17.3%
d. I had some understanding of how scientific work is formally presented,
and I did not learn more from this assignment. 6 = 11.5%
e. I thought I understood how scientific work is formally presented, but I
learned more from this assignment. 4 = 7.7%
f. I thought I understood how scientific work is formally presented, and I did
not learn more from this assignment. 2 = 3.8%
g. I understood how scientific work is formally presented, but I learned more
from this assignment. 17 = 32.7%
h. I understood how scientific work is formally presented, and I did not learn
more from this assignment. 13 = 25%
12. One aim of Papers 2, 3 and 4 was to teach you how to formulate a research
question. Choose one answer:
a. I did not know how to do this, and I learned how from these assignments.
3 = 5.8%
b. I did not know how to do this, and I did not learn how from these
assignments. 1 = 1.9%
c. I had some understanding of how to do this, but I learned more from these
assignments. 17 = 32.7%
d. I had some understanding of how to do this, and I did not learn more from
these assignments. 5 = 9.6%
e. I thought I understood how to do this, but I learned more from these
assignments. 6 = 11.5%
f. I thought I understood how to do this, and I did not learn more from these
assignments. 1 = 1.9%
g. I understood how to do this, but I learned more from these assignments.
16 = 30.8%
h. I understood how to do this, and I did not learn more from these
assignments. 3 = 5.8%
13. One aim of Papers 2, 3 and 4 was to teach you how to choose appropriate
techniques to answer a research question. Choose one answer:
a. I did not know how to do this, and I learned how from these assignments.
7 = 13.4%
b. I did not know how to do this, and I did not learn how from these
assignments.
c. I had some understanding of how to do this, but I learned more from these
assignments. 19 = 36.5%
d. I had some understanding of how to do this, and I did not learn more from
these assignments. 3 = 5.8%
e. I thought I understood how to do this, but I learned more from these
assignments. 5 = 9.6%
f. I thought I understood how to do this, and I did not learn more from these
assignments. 1 = 1.9%
g. I understood how to do this, but I learned more from these assignments.
15 = 28.8%
h. I understood how to do this, and I did not learn more from these
assignments. 2 = 3.8%
14. After you handed in both assignments for Paper 3, the instructor held a discussion
on the paper and the assignments. Choose the answer which best fits.
a. I thought it was very helpful. 11 = 21.2%
b. I thought it was somewhat helpful. 24 = 46.2%
c. I thought it was not very helpful. 12 = 23.1%
d. I thought it was not helpful at all. 5 = 9.6%
15. What did you like about the Experimental Design Project?
16. Please let us know if there are any improvements needed to ensure that the
research papers, assignments and course design prepare you for the Experimental
Design Project.
17. Describe the one thing that you found most rewarding about working in a group
for the Experimental Design Project.
18. Describe the one thing that you would change with respect to group work for the
Experimental Design Project.
19. Were the research papers and assignments useful in preparing you for the
Experimental Design Project?
a. Yes, I thought they were very helpful. 20 = 38.4%
b. Yes, I thought they were somewhat helpful. 17 = 32.7%
c. Yes, but I thought they were not very helpful. 6 = 11.5%
d. No, I thought they were not helpful at all. 9 = 17.3%
20. Was any previous coursework you have had helpful in preparing you for the
Experimental Design Project? Explain.
21. Was the Immunology Lecture course helpful in preparing you for the
Experimental Design Project? Explain.
22. What did you learn about how science is conducted from the Experimental Design
Project? Explain.
23. After taking this course, do you think that you know more about research than
before?
a. Yes, I know much more. 22 = 42.3%
b. Yes, I know some more. 11 = 21.2%
c. Yes, I know a little more. 16 = 30.8%
d. No, I do not know more. 3 = 5.8%
24. Did this course meet your expectations? Yes = 42 = 80.8%; No = 2 = 3.8%;
Exceeded = 6 = 11.5%; NA = 2 = 3.8%
25. Would you recommend this course to your friends? Why or why not?
Yes = 50 = 96.2%
No = 2 = 3.8%