Concept explainers
Isabella felt lucky. How many community college students had the opportunity to help a professor do research in northern Australia’s Kakadu National Park for a month, get college credit for the experience, and not have to pay for the trip? Though she was the oldest person on the trip and often felt her 45 years as they hiked the trails, she didn’t complain. Of course things would have been better if it didn’t seem to rain all the time In Australia and if the thorns didn't tear at her legs quite so regularly; still, the trip was an adventure.
A week after her return to Houston, Texas, Isabella developed a high fever (39.2°C) and general weakness. All other signs, including the results of blood work, appeared normal. The doctors, suspecting flu, told her to get plenty of rest and sent her home. Two days later Isabella was intermittently drowsy and confused, her breathing was labored, and a small cut on her leg was an inflamed, pus-filled lesion. She was admitted to the hospital and died the next day.
She died of melioidosis, an emerging disease caused by a Gram-negative bacterium, Burkholderia pseudomallei, which is endemic to the tropics of Southeast Asia and which appears to be spreading into more moderate climes. Isabella had been infected either via inhalation or through a cut on her leg. Even with treatment, nearly 90% of melioidosis patients die, including Isabella. (For more about melioidosis, seep. 600.)
- 1. If a sample of Isabella's cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) were
Gram-stained , what color would the bacterial cells appear? - 2. Why did the doctor suspect flu rather than melioidosis?
- 3. Why is it unlikely that there will be an epidemic of melioidosis in Sweden or Norway?
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solutionChapter 20 Solutions
Modified MasteringMicrobiology with Pearson eText ValuePack Access Card for Microbiology with Diseases by Taxonomy
- Decomposing organic matter in soil is called ______ a. clay b. humus c. silt d. sandarrow_forwardWhy the jamming of wooden doors and windows takes place in the rainy season?arrow_forwardIn not more than 200 words or 5 sentences, explain why or why not planting mangroves is more beneficial than adding dolomite sand on the shoreline of the contaminated Manila Bay.arrow_forward
- end of the line documentary: What was the main source of income for Newfoundland and what significant event occurred in 1992?arrow_forwardWrite an essay about Global warmingarrow_forwardThe image above is a screenshot taken from an online image sharing website, imgur, showing flowers that allegedly grew from the aftermath of the Fukushima Nuclear Powerplant disaster in 2011 “Do you think this post provides strong evidence of the actual conditions of the area?” Answer in the text box provided in no more than fifty (50) words.arrow_forward
- A student is writing a draft of a scientific report on the effect of prolonged hot temperature on the vegetation in Alaska. The student is at the __________ section, where they are interpreting the findings.arrow_forwardResource and planning for ocean pollutionarrow_forwardWhat does it mean that excavation is a destructive process? A. As a site is excavated, it is destroyed and artifacts can never be put back exactly as they were found. B. None of these C. Excavations are never destructive. D. As a site is excavated, it is destroyed, but artifacts can be put back exactly as they were found.arrow_forward
- Why do you think it was so important to science when Alfie Wegener and Harry Hess proved their theories of continental drift and sea-floor spreading? Explain your answer in 4-5 sentences! (Writing level 8th grade)arrow_forwardResearch questions I could ask for a grant proposal on coral reefs and ocean acidificationarrow_forwardHow does global warming affects the Philippines today? Please give 10 reasons on how it affects the philippinesarrow_forward
- Understanding Health Insurance: A Guide to Billin...Health & NutritionISBN:9781337679480Author:GREENPublisher:CengageHuman Biology (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781305112100Author:Cecie Starr, Beverly McMillanPublisher:Cengage LearningEssentials Health Info Management Principles/Prac...Health & NutritionISBN:9780357191651Author:BowiePublisher:Cengage
- Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life (MindTap...BiologyISBN:9781305073951Author:Cecie Starr, Ralph Taggart, Christine Evers, Lisa StarrPublisher:Cengage LearningBiology Today and Tomorrow without Physiology (Mi...BiologyISBN:9781305117396Author:Cecie Starr, Christine Evers, Lisa StarrPublisher:Cengage Learning