Yersinia pestis
The bacteria causing the millions of deaths over history is known as Yersinia pestis. The bacteria was discovered by a French-born Swiss bacteriologist named Alexander Yersin in 1894 (Tucker, 2010). It is a rod-shaped bacteria approximately 0.5 micrometers wide and 1.5 microns wide (Yersinia pestis, 2013). It does not move and usually is separate/ not connected to other bacteria. The bacteria hides within fleas. These fleas mainly attach themselves to rodents particularly rats. When humans are in close proximity to these rodents the flea attaches and bites the human. The bacteria then replicates itself within the human. The bacteria can spread to other humans through vapor given out while breathing or coughing (Yersinia pestis, 2013).
With today's technology, certain antibiotics can be used to treat the infection. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports on average 1,000 to 3,000 cases of the plague a year around the world. About 14% of the reported cases are fatal. Without treatment of antibiotics 50%-60% of infected humans die (WHO, 2013).
With today's technology, certain antibiotics can be used to treat the infection. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports on average 1,000 to 3,000 cases of the plague a year around the world. About 14% of the reported cases are fatal. Without treatment of antibiotics 50%-60% of infected humans die (WHO, 2013).
How does form follow function?
To the left is a digram of the Yersinia pestis life cycle. The bacteria goes through 2 life cycles. The first one is where it resides in fleas and rodents. The second one is where humans are infected (Tucker, 2010). From there humans can either have Bubonic plague or Pneumonic plague. Bubonic infects the lymph nodes- swelling them and eventually bleeding out. Pneumonic flows through the blood stream to the lungs(Tucker, 2010).
This bacteria is successful in killing so many because it produces two 'antigens' which causes bodies to be unable to kill it off. These antigens can only be produced at 37 degrees Celsius which happens to be around the body temperature of fleas (Tucker, 2010).
This bacteria is successful in killing so many because it produces two 'antigens' which causes bodies to be unable to kill it off. These antigens can only be produced at 37 degrees Celsius which happens to be around the body temperature of fleas (Tucker, 2010).
How do we make meaning of the world?
Terrorism: Threat of Bioterrorism.
Because of the devistation that this bacteria is able to cause it is labeled as a class A threat organism (Riedel, 2005). It has been used, or considered for use as a biological weapon in the past. Because of society's increase in terrorist threats, the medical community must be highly aware of rapid treatments for the plague in case of emergency (Riedel, 2005). The Japanese in WWII were the first to use the bacteria as a biological weapon (WMD, 200-2013).
Because of the devistation that this bacteria is able to cause it is labeled as a class A threat organism (Riedel, 2005). It has been used, or considered for use as a biological weapon in the past. Because of society's increase in terrorist threats, the medical community must be highly aware of rapid treatments for the plague in case of emergency (Riedel, 2005). The Japanese in WWII were the first to use the bacteria as a biological weapon (WMD, 200-2013).