Malaria: an introduction
- Type:
- Classroom activity
- Age level:
- 14 years +
- Topic area:
- Malaria, Plasmodium parasites, vector borne disease, vaccination, drug development
- Description:
This video provides an introduction to the topic of malaria. It describes what malaria is, why it is a complex disease, where malaria is a problem and who is affected. It also describes the symptoms of the disease, how to treat it and how to prevent transmission. The video also addresses the topic of drug resistance and explains why this is a constant challenge to the eradication of malaria and how current research is developing new solutions to tackling the disease.
- Key Words
- Disease, pathogens, malaria, drug resistance.
Running the Video:
- You can run the video in three different ways:
- Browser: Launch the video from this page by clicking the icon below
- Click the following link to view on Youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGyD0oybkh4.
- Standalone: This animation may be downloaded and run without internet access - see Support Links.
- Technical Information:
- Adobe Flash player plugin is required to run this animation from the browser.
- If running from the URL you will require a computer with internet access.
Credits
- Concept and content: Francesca Gale and Steve Scott
- Graphics: Preeti Deshpande
- Animation previews: Animation by Drew Berry (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research). Animation used with permission from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
- Globe animation: Preeti Deshpandi
- Film Footage: Rockhopper Productions (South East Asia footage) and Paul Fenn Films (interviews and laboratory footage)
Support Links:
Related items:
Curriculum links:
This activity supports the following modules on the UK curriculum. Click on the arrows below for further detail of the module.
Option F: Microbes and biotechnology
F6: Microbes and disease
- Describe the cause, transmission and effects of malaria, as an example of disease caused by a protozoan.
Edexcel Level 3 BTEC Applied Science
Unit 21: Biomedical science techniques
1. Understand the structure and characteristics of major groups of organisms of medical importance
· Concepts of parasitism: symbiosis; commensalisms; pathogenicity.
· Sources of infection: human reservoirs; animal reservoirs; non-living reservoirs.
· Routes of transmission: contact; vehicle; vectors.
· Routes of entry into the body: orifices; droplets; body fluids.
3. Know how the principles of blood transfusion science relate to the study of haematology
· Diagnostic techniques: e.g. blood smears, red blood cell count, reticulocyte count, mean corpuscular volume, analysis for iron deficiency, coagulation, platelet counts, tests for abnormal haemoglobin, blood volumes.
· Erythrocytes: associated diseases, e.g. anaemia, thalassaemia, megaloblastic anaemia, aplastic anaemia, vitamin B12 deficiency, foliate deficiency, sickle cell anaemia.
· Transmissable infections by transfusion: e.g. hepatitis, cytomegalovirus (CMV), human parvovirus (B19), malaria, Chagas’ diseases, screening of blood products.
Edexcel IGCSE Biology
Section 1: The nature and variety of living organisms
b) Variety of living organisms
- Protoctists: These are microscopic single-celled organisms. Some, like Amoeba, that live in pond water, have features like an animal cell, while others, like Chlorella, have chloroplasts and are more like plants. A pathogenic example is Plasmodium, responsible for causing malaria.
- Recall the term ‘pathogen’ and know that pathogens may be fungi, bacteria, protoctists or viruses.
OCR AS Biology
Unit F212: Molecules, biodiversity, food and health
Module 2: Food and health
2.2.2. Health and disease
- Define and discuss the meanings of the terms parasite and pathogen.
- Describe the causes and means of transmission of malaria, AIDS/HIV and TB.
- Discuss the global impact of malaria, AIDS/HIV and TB.
- Define the terms immune response, antigen and antibody.
- Describe the primary defences against pathogens and parasites (including skin and mucus membranes) and outline their importance.
- Explain how vaccination can control disease.
- Outline possible new sources of medicines, with reference to microorganisms and plants and the need to maintain biodiversity.
Module 3: Biodiversity and evolution
2.3.3 Evolution
- Discuss why the evolution of pesticide resistance in insects and drug resistance in microorganisms has implications for humans (HSW6a, 7c).
OCR AS/A2 General Studies
Teaching Module 3: Science, mathematics and technology
· Candidates should be given the opportunity to make informed judgements on such contemporary issues as: health and fitness, disease control. (AS)
· Candidates should be given the opportunity to explore the relationships between technology, science, society and ideology through such topics as: natural hazards and disasters, relief and rescue. (A2)
OCR Gateway GCSE Biology B and Science B
Module B1: Understanding organisms.
Item B1c: Staying healthy
· Recall that infectious diseases are caused by pathogens (disease-causing microorganisms).
· Recall one example of a disease caused by each type of pathogen, limited to athlete’s foot (fungi), flu (viruses), cholera (bacteria) and malaria (protozoa).
· Recall the meaning of the term parasite and host with reference to malaria.
· Describe how vectors spread disease:
o limited to mosquito.
· Explain how knowledge of the life cycle of a disease and the way in which vectors spread disease can help control infections:
o limited to malaria and the mosquito.
· Interpret data on the incidence of disease around the world to show links with climate and socio-economic factors.
· Explain how pathogens cause the symptoms of an infectious disease by cell damage or by production of toxins.
Web links:
Additional sources of information on the web for teachers and students to increase their knowledge base of malaria and other infectious diseases.
