Borreliella Burgdorferi (Lyme disease)

MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY
Term Paper Rubric for Microbial Diseases
Name: _______________________________ Date: ________________________
TOPIC: ______________________________________________________________
Discussion of Research Topic (64): ________________
___________% Similarity according to via D2L dropbox
a. Brief History of the Disease (10 points) ____________
b. Morphology and characteristics of pathogen (10 points) ____________
c. Discussion of the symptoms and causes (10 points) ____________
d. Effects of the disease at the:
Cellular/Tissue level
Organ/Organ system level
Organism level
(15 points): ____________
e. Treatments & side effects (10 points) ____________
How treatment effects microbe
How treatment reduces / cures disease
f. Conclusion (current status vs. future standing) (5 points) ____________
g. Original and relevant tables and/or pictures – no longer than 1/3 page (4 points)
____________
Format (36 points):
a. APA format (10) __________
b. no more than 1 direct quote & less than one line in length (2) __________
c. in-text citation consistent with Works Cited (10) _________
d. grammar (3) _________
e. required subheadings (3) _________
f. Copies of references included and highlighted (8) _______
Requirements
• APA format
• should not be less than 5 pages (excluding tables and/or pictures)
• Direct quotes and paraphrased information should be cited with in-text citations. No
more than 1 quote is allowed, and it may not be longer than one line.
• Papers should be written in your own words and in complete sentences, with correct
grammar. Papers with copied or plagiarized sentences will receive a grade of zero. You
may also receive a failing grade for the course. Please cite all references used. You must
use in-text citations, as well as a Works Cited page. This is a collegiate-level research
paper that should NOT include the student’s point-of-view, but instead include a
compilation of academic research from professional scientific journals.
• Format: “Times New Roman” font size 12. Do not leave extra space between paragraphs.
Subheadings should be used for ease of flow of information. Standard APA margins
should be used.
• Use bold print for subheadings throughout all sections of the paper.
** EACH subheading must have ample collegiate level research from AT LEAST 3
DIFFERENT JOURNALS. Textbooks may be used to supplement journal articles, but
textbooks do NOT count toward the 3 different journal references required per
subheading. Include current information available about the disease. The subheadings
you will use for the term papers should be bold print.

The subheadings are:

History of the disease: briefly mention how prevalent this disease has been in the U.S
and around the world in the past, what treatments were available and how the disease has
affected the human population.

Morphology and characteristics of pathogen:
Be sure to include the full name of the microbe, not just the name of the disease it causes.

Bacteria: General Description. Gram + or -? Morphology? Arrangement? Locomotion?
Endo and/or exotoxin? Transmission? Virulence factors? Preferred environment? Other
identification characteristics.

Viruses: General Description. Size? Budding? Lysis of host cell? Latency? Type of
nucleic acid? Replication? Transmission? Preferred host cell? Vector? Envelope? Other
identification characteristics.

Protozoa/Fungi/Worms: General Description. Morphology? Replication? Preferred
environment? Vector? Transmission? Life cycle? Other identification characteristics.

Symptoms and causes: the main identifying symptoms associated with the disease and what
are the causes for the disease. How does the patient present clinically? What is the
patient complaining of? Include a brief description of the cause of these symptoms.
Effects of the disease at the cellular, tissue and organ system levels. How does the
pathogen create symptoms you described in previous subheading? How does the
functioning of the tissues and organs change as a result of this? This subheading is
where you should connect what is happening at a cellular level (microscopic) to
what is happening at the organ system levels (macroscopic) to cause the symptoms
previously discussed.

Treatment(s) & Side Effects: Treatments should be discussed as to how they affect
cellular processes as well as the function of the affected tissue and/or organ(s).
Name specific medications. How do these medications effect the pathogen? What
side effects may result in the patient?

Conclusion: should be a summary based on information already discussed in paper.
Include current status vs. future standing of treatment(s) for this disease. What does
the future hold for improved diagnoses or treatment or prevention for this disease?
Does research suggest a vaccine in the near future? Does research suggest larger or
smaller populations will be effected by this disease? Are there new treatments or
cures in the near future? Keep in mind that the conclusion is based on RESEARCH,
not your opinion. “I think…” is NOT appropriate in a RESEARCH paper.

* Tables/Pictures: At least one table or picture must be included. Be sure to cite
directly beneath the illustration with an in-text citation. You must refer to the
illustration within the body of your paper. No table or picture may be more than 1/3
of one page. *
No Wikipedia may be used as references. Remember, this is a collegiate level research paper,
which is a compilation of scientific research. No non-scientific journals permitted. Any
reference with ONLY a website will not be counted toward the 3 different journals
required per subheading. Follow APA format for the entire document, including works
cited page.
A few useful websites with online articles for general background information to get you
started learning about your topic are listed below. These may be included only in addition to the
required 3 different journals referenced per subheading.
Center for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov
National Library of Medicine/PubMed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed/
OncoLink: http:///www.oncolink.org/
Texas Cancer Data Center: http://www.tcdc.uth.tmc.edu/
American Cancer Society: http://www.cancer.org/index.html
Journal of American Medical Association: http://jama.ama-assn.org/contents-bydate.0.shtml
PubMed
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