Topic 4.5
Key Concepts
- From ancient myths and miasma theories to groundbreaking discoveries like germ theory, science has transformed how we view and combat infectious diseases.
- Key figures like Louis Pasteur, Alice Catherine Evans, Robert Koch, Alexander Fleming, and Barry Marshall shaped modern medicine by identifying pathogens, developing vaccines, and creating antibiotics.
- The devastating impact of the plague highlighted the importance of public health measures.
Summary
In this topic, we explored how society has battled infectious diseases since the beginning of recorded history. Leading scientists have broken new ground and understood diseases by building a germ theory and applying good science.
Major pandemics, such as the plague, coronavirus, or influenza, have been battled with “the prepared mind” (look up what Pasteur said).
Extension Activities
Play the class game, “Acting out the Immune Response“, to act out a nonspecific and then a specific response to an invading pathogen.