The Effect of Diphtheria Disease on Mice - Research Proposal Example

EFFECTS OF DIPHTHERIA DISEASE (RESEARCH PROPOSAL) This research proposal advocates for a comprehensive evaluation of the effects of the Diphtheria disease on mice, and the variations of the bacterial aspects when compared to human effects. The Diphtheria disease is a leading cause of death in most countries and has many complications such as the growth of thick membranes on the respiratory tract causing difficulties in swallowing and breathing (WHO 2010). Through the evaluation the disease’s effects on mice, there are possibilities of finding weak points of the bacteria and absolute ways of preventing the disease through a better vaccination program or a way to counter it. The core method to use for the extraction of information is through online journals, scholarly articles, books and other literature which provides a substantial amount of information through comparing the different perspectives; all the same, other methods to be applied include; observation and use of medical reports that will also be very helpful. This research and others could mark the basis of a comprehensive solution for the major problem that is the Diphtheria contagion. TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents PROJECT DESCRIPTION 4 A.INTRODUCTION 4 Diphtheria Facts 4 B.RESEARCH OBJECTIVE 6 C.METHODS 9 Introduction 9 D.BROADER IMPLICATION 10 REFERENCES 11 PROJECT DESCRIPTION A. INTRODUCTION Diphtheria is a critical airborne contagion that transmits through bacteria where one is at risk of getting an infection through coughing or coming into contact with an item that has the disease’s bacteria. Commonly, the disease affects the respiratory system of the human body with the common indicators being engorged glands, neck pains, fever and fatigue (Wint 2012). Medical practitioners treat the disease according to a person’s symptoms; however, most of the doctors use antibiotics as a basis of their treatment. The treatment of diphtheria is very essential with time being the core determinant; moreover, a doctor’s instinct can also save a person’s life when the identification process is quick. There are vaccines for other diseases such as tetanus vaccination that doctor’s use to avert diphtheria but this is not permanent (CDC 1991 &Bellman 2012)). This is a shortcoming, especially for children who require extra treatment and more vaccines to boost the prevention. Even though diphtheria is very rare in some places such as the United States there are some areas where it is common especially in the youth and young children hence creating the need for an utter way of treatment and prevention. In some states, it is the leading cause of death and other life-threatening impediments but this happens only in countries where childhood inoculations are not a routine. Diphtheria Facts Reflectively, Corynebacterium diphtheriae is the core root of the disease and starts by affecting the lubricated rinds of the upper air passageway; however, the diphtheria also infects the skin. Apart from coughs and sneezes, the disease can also spread through skin sores and wounds that produce bodily fluids; additionally, there are people who have the bacteria but have no signs and indications. Some of the threat influences of Diphtheria are large crowds in small areas, poor sanitation and overlooking critical vaccinations for children. Due to the bacteria dwelling in the nose and mouth, a person experiences health difficulties and symptoms such as gutturalness, increase in body temperatures, feebleness, problems in inhalation and swallowing, and neckline irritation. The troubles in swallowing and breathing come as a cause of dense membranes growing at the back of the throat hence blocking the passages; moreover, the neck swelling only happens to the people with austere infections causing the lymph glands to enlarge. The bacteria vary with the genes of the infected person; due to this aspect, there is a limitation with only a specific strain of the bacteria having the capabilities of causing other severe illnesses. In reference to this notion, ‘toxin spreads in the bloodstream of the person with diphtheria leading to skin ailments that produce skin sores’ (Usuwanthim 2008). In cases where the infection has matured or taken a long period before identification, the contagion in the breathing system spreads to other parts of the human body; also because of the toxins. The parts that are most likely to be infected include the nerves and parts of the cardiac system. Complications that follow the production of the toxins include; the damaging of the heart leading to its failure and the marginal nerves (leads to muscle weakness or paralysis) (Tittel 2012). In some occasions, the breathing muscles of the infected person fail, but only for a certain period; moreover, at times people may experience suffocation due to the thick membrane on the throat moving deeper causing breathing hitches (Saito 2001). Assertively, diphtheria is still a fatal disease even when the infected person gets the proper treatment mostly because there are no particular ways to predict the results of an infection or other areas that the bacteria might have infected. Resultantly, this calls for utter examination and evaluation of the infected person’s condition. In the past, scientists and medical researchers have come up with different methods and procedures to counter diphtheria; most of the data used entails results from past research and conditions of people infected. Absolutely, in any given condition, breaking down of cells of particular bacteria discloses essential aspects relating to the functions and development techniques; nonetheless, diphtheria bacteria are different as the results are blemished. However, there are experimenters who believe that the technical approach of using rodents is a breakthrough since the animals lack the capability of counterattacking diphtheria like humans. Decisively, this research proposal focuses on evaluating results and reactions from mice infected with bacteria based on the complications, secreting strains and other effects. This could be the foundation for an utter way of countering and preventing diphtheria especially through gathering more information on its bacteria. B. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE Most rodents die a short period after the diphtheria bacteria gets into their system hence there lacks sufficient time to study the reactions and other significant aspects as the bacteria spreads. This is due to the variations in the species and nature of their cells causing indifferences in the membrane-growth factor. However, mice stand out, as they do not immediately impasse to the diphtheria bacteria making the infection process less fast mostly because their cells have limited sensitivity; all the same, they die after a few days giving ample time for study (Fujioka 2011). The objective of the research proposal is identifying the cause of the disparity between human reactions and those of the mice; additionally, comparing the results with those of the other rodents might establish a connection on facets of the bacteria that are yet to be recognized. Generally, the study bases primarily on the effects of diphtheria disease on the mice in search of a more detailed factor that will expose the weaknesses or ways to counter the disease’s bacteria (Meyer 2010). Technical Approach Significantly, to achieve the objective examining the mice in the laboratory as experiment is the most essential aspect. The best routine entails precise cell ablation as an examination of the cells role on a vivo level; additionally, due to simplicity, there will be the application of toxin receptor arbitrated sensation for the rats. The core injection is the diphtheria toxin that will provide the primary findings on the proxy and other effects i.e. diseases, infections etc. Moreover, the following steps will entail establishing the association between the effects and the levels of countenance from the mice injected with the toxin. The damage caused also requires comparison with the quantity of the Diphtheria toxin used. Generally, this tactic is a potential approach for utter results that will offer ideas on ways to counter Diphtheria through evaluating the reclamation and renaissance of nerves from impairs caused on the mice’ cells. Time Scale The stages of the plan (before and after implementation) entail: Week 1-4: Preparation of the toxin receptor prior to its application as an adjudicator for the responsiveness of the rats, after which injection of the toxin takes place Week 5-7: Cell ablation Week 8-20: Examining of the cell roles, determining the effects of the toxin, evaluating association between these effects and the rats’ resistance level and finally, comparing the overall damage with the quantity of toxin used initially. NB: Throughout week one to seventeen, documentation of the progress takes place GANNT CHART YEAR 2015 MONTHS JANUARY FEB MARCH APRIL MAY WEEKS ACTIVITY 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 3 Preparation of Toxin Receptor for the Rats Injection of the Rats with Diphtheria Cell Ablation Examine the Role of Rats on a VIVO Level Determine Physical Effects of the Toxin Evaluate Association between Effects and Rats’ Resistance Levels Comparison of the Quantity of Toxin with the Amount of Damage Documentation C. METHODS Introduction This chapter discusses research methodology used in this study namely the research design, study site, target population, sample size, sampling method and procedures, instruments of data collection, ethical consideration and data analysis methods. a. Research Design The study will use descriptive survey design and variables that require proper identification to lay ground for the formulation of a hypothesis to be tested using the available methods. This research will apply quantitative techniques of data analysis used in establishment of substantial basis of discussing desired results (Creswell, 2009). This research methodology depends heavily on the results and reactions of the mice when infected with diphtheria (Dawson, 2002). It uses in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (Patten, 2004). b. Data Sampling Sampling techniques involve non- probability which will be adopted in this study to draw the sample from the population. Data collection will involve surveys, edited and coded in preparation of data analysis. Desk study will then be done to obtain independent information that will help in supporting the hypothesis. c. Data collection The research will apply two methods of data collection in the process of conducting this study. Methods will use both primary and secondary sources data. There will be an internet search using the commonly known search engines like Google, with initial search focusing mainly on application of social media marketing by organizations. d. Data analysis This study will have qualitative data, and a different analysis of this data; where the qualitative be analyzed using the latest version of SPSS. Tables, charts and graphs also apply in the analysis of qualitative data. e. Ethical Considerations The researcher will get authority from the participants under review for their consent forms issued to doctors in charge and patients infected with diphtheria. Results from past experiments and patient’s treatment data that is confidential will not be disclosed i.e. names; however, in some situations the names will be altered or ‘anonymous’ used instead. D.BROADER IMPLICATION Diphtheria has been a leading cause of death among children since its discovery in the 1880s by prominent doctors of that time, and due to the increase in deaths, a vaccine was develop to counter its effects and transmission. There was a decrease in the deaths but the disease still spread causing different complications in children; nonetheless, people continue to enact various vaccination programs all over the world but serious epidemics still occur. Around two decades ago, there was an outburst of Diphtheria in Russia with over 150,000 people infected and five thousand dead. Past events call for more research and close study of the Diphtheria bacteria for the production of vaccination that is more effective or even medication that will act as a cure for the disease, resultantly, the study of the bacteria’s effects on mice is more efficient and convenient for an adjacent study (FDA 2014). Most of the prominent health organizations do not put much attention on the matter because Diphtheria is only a problem in few and specific areas, and very rare in areas such as the United States; purposefully, there is a lot of significance on the matter as prevention is better than cure and everyone should prepare in advance. REFERENCES Bellman, R (2012) Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids: National Centre of Biotechnology Information, Retrieved on 14th October 2014, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK236292/ Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (1991) Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis: Recommendations for Vaccine Use and Other Preventive Measures: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 40(10): 1-28 Creswell, J, (2009). Research design: Qualitative & quantitative approaches, 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, California Dawson, C. (2002). Practical Research Methods, New Delhi, UBS Publishers’ Distributors Fujioka, M (2011) Generating Mouse Models of Degenerative Diseases Using Cre/lox-mediated in Vivo Mosaic Cell Ablation: Journal of Clinical Investigation, 121(6): 2462-2469 Methods, 354: 10-84 Meyer, G (2010) Active Immunization Induces Toxicity of Diphtheria Toxin in Diphtheria Patten, L. (2004). Understanding research methods: An overview of the essentials, 4th ed Glendale, Pyrczak Publishing. Resistant Mice-Implications for Neuro-inflammatory models: Journal of Immunological Saito, M (2001) Diphtheria Toxin Receptor: Nature Biotechnology, Retrieved on 14th October 2014, from http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/v19/n8/full/nbt0801_746.html Tittel, A (2012) Functionally Relevant Neutrophilia in CD11c Diphtheria Toxin Receptor Transgenic Mice: US National Library of Medicine, 9(4): 385-390 US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (2014) Biomarkers of Vaccine Safety and Efficacy for Diphtheria Vaccines: Vaccines, Blood and Biologics, Retrieved on 14th October 2014, from http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/ScienceResearch/BiologicsResearchAreas/ucm127290.htm Usuwanthim, K (2008) Murine Monoclonal Antibodies Neutralizing the Cytotoxic Activity of Diphtheria Toxin: Journal of Allergy and Immunology, 26: 47-55 Wint, C (2012) Diphtheria: Health-line, Retrieved on 14th October 2014, from http://www.healthline.com/health/diphtheria#Overview1 World Health Organization (WHO) (2014) Diphtheria- The Disease: Immunization, Vaccines and Biological, Retrieved 14th October 2014, from http://www.who.int/immunization/topics/diphtheria/en/index1.html Read More