Infectious diseases
A collection of Catalyst articles about infectious diseases.
- ALL
- Article
Article
A Vaccine for Malaria?
This Catalyst article examines malaria which is one of the world’s top ten diseases but an effective vaccine to combat it is yet to be discovered. Scientists in the Malaria Vaccine Group at Oxford are trying to overcome some very difficult problems using a new approach to vaccines.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2003, Volume 13, Issue 3.
Phytoplasmas - Friend or Foe?
A Catalyst article about phytoplasmas which are micro-organisms that affect crop plants modifying their growth.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2011, Volume 21, Issue 3.
Fighting Dengue Fever
This article from Catalyst focuses on dengue fever. Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease found in tropical areas and its range is spreading.
The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2014, Volume 25, Issue 2.
TB or not TB?
A Catalyst article about the problems of badgers transmitting tuberculosis to cattle, but is a cull of badgers a solution to the problem? t is known that badgers can transmit the disease to cattle, so many farmers would like to see badgers culled. But is this the solution to the problem? A scientific study suggests that it is not.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2007, Volume 18, Issue 1.
Ignaz Semmelweis: Saviour of Mothers
A Catalyst article about the discovery of puerperal fever by Ignaz Semmelweis a doctor in a maternity ward in Vienna general hospital.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2009, Volume 20, Issue 1.
When the Drugs Don't Work
This Catalyst article explains why there are many anti-bacterial drugs but few antivirals. There are millions of bacteria everywhere – on skin, in the gut, and on food. Bacteria have been troubling human beings for as long as they have been around, so a lot of effort has been directed into finding ways to fight back at them.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2010, Volume 20, Issue 3.
Small Wonders - the Invention of Microscopy
A Catalyst article about the early microscopists, including Leeuwenhoek, Hooke and Swammerdam. Their work looked at the miniature world beyond human sight and through publications raised awareness of phenomena such as how insects functioned and how disease spread. The article also examines the use of simple and compound microscopes.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2010, Volume 20, Issue 3.
Solar Disinfection of Drinking Water
Reliance on unsafe drinking water is a significant problem in many areas of the world. This Catalyst article looks at the method of solar disinfection to provide safe drinking water.
The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2012, Volume 23, Issue 2.
Talkative Microbes
This Catalyst article explores how microbes communicate and how, by growing two different microbes together, it is possible to discover new substances which may be useful in medicine.
This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2013, Volume 24, Issue 2.
Essential Oils as Antimicrobial Agents
Since the discovery of antibiotics, many people believe that the pathogenic microorganism threat to the population has been removed, with fatal infections and infectious diseases brought under control. This has discouraged research into drugs containing natural compounds such as essential oils. This Catalyst article looks at how a school microbiology club investigated the antimicrobial effects of some essential oils.
The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2014, Volume 24, Issue 3.
Supporting Dentists - Careers
A Catalyst article looking at careers in dentistry. Dental practices employ assistants, nurses, hygienists and therapists. Using case studies this article looks at the roles these jobs undertake.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2004, Volume 15, Issue 1.
Blocking Viruses with Synthetic Receptors
This Catalyst article explains how chemists build molecular 'traps' to mimic the surface of a cell. The article describes how chemists made a synthetic receptor using chemical reactions to build up the structure piece by piece.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2009, Volume 20, Issue 2.
How Science Works in Africa
A Catalyst article about a Kenyan scientist who is searching for better treatments for malaria, a disease which kills more than a million people in Africa each year.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2010, Volume 20, Issue 3.
John Snow
A Catalyst article about John Snow who discovered the cause of cholera, how it spreads and how to avoid it. Snow's work is what is now referred to as epidemiology and his persistent investigative work and resulting publications resulted in health authorities using his findings.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2005, Volume 15, Issue 3.
Fighting Fit *suitable for home teaching*
This Catalyst article looks at how exercise affects our immunity and susceptibility to infection. The article explores this research further and looks directly at the effects exercise has on the immune system.
The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2012, Volume 22, Issue 4.
Seeing Into Bacteria
This Catalyst article describes how biophysics is helping in the search for novel antibiotics. Bacteria produce an array of proteins to kill off their competitors. These proteins, called bacteriocins, are very efficient at penetrating the defensive outer layers of bacteria cells by moving through specific membrane transporter proteins.
The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2012, Volume 23, Issue 1.
Teixobactin
This Catalyst article investigates teixobactin, which scientists are developing as a new approach to tackling bacterial diseases to overcome the problem of antibiotic resistance.
The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2015, Volume 26, Issue 1.
The Ebola Outbreak
This Catalyst article investigates the Ebola outbreak. Defeating the outbreak of the viral disease Ebola in 2014-15 required great medical effort. Antidotes and vaccines are under development.
The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2015, Volume 26, Issue 1.
Gertrude B. Elion
A Catalyst article about the life and work of Gertrude B. Elion a pioneer in anti-viral drugs. The ground breaking research methodology she used and her work in creating and investigating purine compounds lead to the development of drugs which are used in the treatment of leukaemia.
This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2006, Volume 16, Issue 3.
