Background and Significance: Research Proposal Part 1

-

This is Part One of my research proposal, which contains a brief, background information of my topic. 

Yersinia pestis doesn’t sound any alarms when referred to in binomial nomenclature. However, this bacterium causes a severe and fatal illness with a more well-known, negatively connotated name: Plague. Rightfully so, Yersinia pestis has caused the deaths of millions of humans worldwide over the course of its existence. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 50 million deaths in Europe alone were caused by Plague in the Middle Ages.   

Bubonic Plague, Pneumonic Plague, and Septicemic Plague are the three different manifestations of the infection. Transmissions vary between the three illnesses. Bubonic Plague comprises 80% of all cases of Plague (CDC, 2019). It is primarily transmitted via bites from flea carriers that typically survive on various mammal hosts, a majority of which are rodents (CDC, 2019). When Plague develops in Pneumonic form, it is transmissible from person-to-person in respiratory droplets (Butler, 2017). As we are witnessing in our current pandemic, an uncontained respiratory disease can claim lives and spread within densely populated communities at an alarming rate.

Throughout history, epidemics of Plague have appeared in waves wreaking havoc on numerous populations across the globe. Fortunately, advancements in sanitation, medicine, and prevention awareness have decreased the prevalent threat of Yersinia pestis. Immediate diagnosis and treatment can ultimately overcome the imminent fatality of infection. Therefore, that poses the question, “Is further research necessary on an illness that is well studied, treatable, and has decreased fatalities?”

The answer lies within current data. Within the five years between 2005 and 2010, the Plague’s 3,248 cases were reported along with 548 deaths (WHO, 2017). In 2017, the CDC recorded sixteen Plague cases and four consequent deaths solely in the United States. While these numbers seem relatively small, there is a notable feature of the CDC’s 2017 data set. Most of those cases occurred in the four-corner region of the southwest (CDC, 2019).                                                                                                                  

This map is derived from the https://www.cdc.gov/plague/maps/index.html

 In July of this year, a human Plague case appeared in Navajo County of Northern Arizona. While already enduring a pandemic, I felt this sole case warranted a pursuit of more knowledge on my behalf; especially, considering its geographical closeness to my community. Upon researching, I found that outbreaks of Plague are common throughout the world, just not on the scale that it once was. Analyzing different maps of reported human cases, I concluded that warmer locations appear to contain more cases. Leading me to question the seasonality of infection and environmental conditions that allow the bacteria, fleas, and rodent carriers to thrive and reproduce.  

Although Plague doesn’t account for millions of deaths like in the Middle Ages, cases of the disease have not ceased, and the bacteria have not been decimated nor disappeared over time. Infectious diseases that cause severe illness and death warrant continual research even when cases are minimal. The more understanding we gain of Plague, the better we can prevent or eliminate outbreaks, cases, or deaths within our community. Then, we can potentially save human lives worldwide.

Thanks for reading! This is only the first section of my proposal. There will be more to come. This is my first proposal and I welcome and appreciate any feedback. 



References

Ari, T., Gage, K., Kreppel, K., Laudisoit, A., Leirs, H., Neerinckx, S., Stenseth, N. (2011). Plague and             climate: scales matter. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Public Library of Science.          https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3174245/#ppat. 1002160-Stenseth1 

Atshabar, B., Begon, M., Belmain, S., Bertherat, E., Carniel, E., Gage, K., Leirs, H., Rahalison, L.,                 Stenseth, N. (2008). Plague: past, present, and future. Public Library of Science Medicine.                      https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed .0050003

Butler, M.D., T. (2017). Yersinia pestis. Microbes. Antimicrobes. http://www.antimicrobe.org/                         b246.asp

Campbell, S. B., Nelson, C. A., Hinckley, A. F., & Kugeler, K. J. (2019). Animal Exposure and                      Human Plague, United States, 1970-2017. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 25(12), 2270+.                        https://link-gale-com.ezproxy.pc.maricopa.edu/apps/doc/A615236488/SCIC?=mcc_phoe                         &sid=SCIC&xid=46d86dce

 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2019). Plague. https://www.cdc.gov/plague/maps/                        index.html

 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2017). NNDSS - Table I. infrequently reported                           notifiable diseases. Data.CDC.gov. https://data.cdc.gov/NNDSS/NNDSS-Table-I-infrequently-              reported-notifiable-dis/45b4-9j7u/data

 Collinge, S., Cully, Jr. J., Johnson, T., Ray, C. (2010). Disease Limits Populations: Plague and Black-            Tailed Prairie Dogs. Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. National Center for Biotechnolody                 Information. National Library of Science. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/                                                   pmc/articles/PMC2945311/  

 Dennis, D., Mead, P. (2009). Plague. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Public                            Library of Science. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7152251/#bib26

Sussman, G. (2015). Scientists doing history: Central Africa and the origins of the first plague                         pandemic. Journal of World History. 26(2), 325+. https://link-gale-com.ezproxy.pc.                                maricopa.edu/apps/doc/A455415406/WHIC?u=mcc_phoe&sid=WHIC&xid=4dfec967

World Health Organization (2017). Plague. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/                        plague  



Comments

  1. Maria RodriquezOctober 1, 2020 at 2:05 PM

    Very informed background. I see that your project is going to be based on the seasonal occurrence of the plague. I look forward to seeing the methods that you'll apply to conduct your research. Very good so far.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Search for Research: The Top Two

-
Image
My first step for this semester’s research project was simply to search for topics in my interest areas. Unfortunately, since I am a new STEM scholar, I have numerous interest areas. I’m hoping that this is a normal occurrence for beginners. In order to narrow my scope, I chose to stick in the relative area of ecology. I started by looking at different ecological issues and moved on to wildlife epidemiology. Once, I compiled a list of important and relevant problems, I gathered more information about each and created a compilation of summaries or overviews. Although I started with 10+ topics, these are the top two that made the cut: The monarch butterfly ( Danaus plexippus ) population has drastically reduced in size over the last two decades. Research suggests a need for increased milkweed habitats. More research is necessary to understand the effects of climate change on migratory patterns. This video from National Geographic is twelve years old. It mentions the monarch butterfly p...
Read more

The Where's and Why's of Disease

-
Image
 As I approach developing questions about Yersinia pestis , I found a necessity to gather as much background information about the microbe as possible. This past week has consisted of numerous articles, journals, and videos that address various aspects of the bacteria. For the sake of organization, I would like to present some of the information I found on a scale of small to large; in relativity to observable material.  1.    Microbiological and genetic composition: As you can see from the picture below it is rod-shaped. There are no visible extensions that make it motile. I found a great paper that further explains its virulence, specific plasmids, and structurally gram-negative cell well encoded by chromosomal genes (Butler M.D., 1). It is an anaerobic organism. I have reached out to a professor to help me better understand the role of phagocytes and antigens. Hopefully from there, I can develop questions pertaining to structural or chromosomal composition and th...
Read more

Trying to Learn Statistics

-
Image
It is almost turkey times, friends! I cannot wait for some stuffing (it's my favorite). First, I'd like to say I am having issues commenting on my own blog. I have seen your comments and appreciate the support, encouragement, and advice. Hopefully, I will have these technical issues resolved soon so that I can respond and send my warm regards.  I have done a little statistics in some of my science classes, but have not taken the class, yet. I believe it's on my schedule for one of the upcoming semesters. Therefore, I don't fully know about the types of statistical comparisons.  My week has been organizing my data into neat little tables that make sense. Also, I have had to collect some more climate data for one of my regions. I need to have a meeting with a mentor to help me understand statistically and graphically. I love math, but my least favorite part is making the graphs. Well, just complicated ones are challenging. Really my goal is to have the data really clearly...
Read more