Pathogen transmission
Wed, May 5, 2027 · Week 16 · Human Anatomy & Physiology (Human Body Systems)
Today's goal: Explain pathogen transmission and antiviral action using teacher notes and the PLTW online task.
This is a model of the work you should turn in today. Use it to check your own: match the structure and the level of detail, do not copy it. Your data and wording should be your own.
Transmission routes noted: respiratory droplets, contaminated water, and direct contact.
Viral replication cycle (annotated):
- Attachment: virus binds a receptor on the host cell surface.
- Entry: viral genetic material gets inside the cell.
- Replication: the cell is forced to copy viral genes and build viral proteins.
- Assembly: new virus particles are put together.
- Release: new viruses leave to infect more cells.
Antiviral intervention point: I labeled the Replication step, because a drug that blocks viral copying stops new particles from ever being built.
Definitions (my own words):
- Plaque assay: a lab test that grows virus on a lawn of cells and counts the clear holes (plaques) where virus killed cells; each plaque marks roughly one infectious virus particle, so counting plaques measures how much infectious virus is present.
- Antiviral mechanism: a drug that interrupts one step of the viral cycle, such as blocking entry or blocking replication, so the virus cannot spread from cell to cell.
My resistance question: If a virus mutates the protein the antiviral targets, how many copies of the cycle does it take before the drug stops working?
(Tip: label the exact step your antiviral blocks; an antiviral works on one step, not the whole cycle at once.)
This model shows the level of evidence and organization needed to complete: Presents an annotated viral replication diagram with the antiviral intervention point marked, plus plain-language definitions of a plaque assay and of how an antiviral works.
- Date and label the entry.
- Record the procedure, observation, or design decision clearly.
- End with what the evidence means and the next step.
Keep the structure. Replace the question, facts, measurements, and evidence. Then recheck units, vocabulary, and whether the conclusion goes beyond the evidence.
Also due today: Submit your transmission-and-antiviral notebook on Schoology.
Turn in: Transmission and antiviral notebook
Go to Schoology to turn this in.
Submit one PDF. Put your first and last name in the document header. Name the file: FirstName LastName - Assignment Title - YYYY-MM-DD.pdf.
Open Schoology PDF upload helpIf you cannot get in, see Mr. Mendoza. Do not skip the work.
Claim ceiling: Today's evidence supports a classroom claim about pathogen transmission. It cannot prove causation, diagnose a real patient, or justify action outside this room.
One exam-style question that uses exactly what you practiced today. Try it before you reveal the answer, then read why each choice is right or wrong.
Tap an answer to see the full explanation. Nothing is recorded or graded.
It builds this reusable test skill: Diagramming how an antiviral interrupts viral spread.
- Name the concept or data pattern being tested.
- Cross out choices that violate that rule or the evidence.
- Justify the best remaining choice before checking the answer.