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What is a healthy organism?
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General resources
Fact Sheets - from World Health Organisation. Listed alphbetically by name, the sheets include many infectious diseases
Center for Disease Control and Prevention - a US Government site. CDC.gov is CDC's primary online communication channel. Annually, there are close to 500 million page views to the site, averaging 41 million page views per month. CDC.gov provides users with credible, reliable health information.
Fact Sheets - on a range of topics including Adolescent Immunization, Hepatitis B, Reduce the Risk of Infectious Diseases, from National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) is a non-profit, tax-exempt (501c3) organization founded in 1973 and dedicated to educating the public and healthcare professionals about the causes, treatment and prevention of infectious diseases.
Surviving Challenges from Organisms that Cause Disease: Introduction - from VCE Biology Students' site at La Trobe University.
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Cleanliness, personal hygiene and water quality
Viruses - from WATERSHEDSS, North Carolina State University. An introduction to various viruses
Australian Drinking Water Guidelines - from National Health and Medical Research Council. The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines is undergoing a rolling revision process that ensures it represents the latest scientific evidence on good quality drinking water. As sections of the Guidelines continue to be reviewed, this page will be updated to provide the latest information. Good background information for teachers.
Education - from Sydney Water. For students, teachers or self-educators, everything from how the water cycle works, to how to organise a school excursion to a treatment plant. Includes teaching notes
Water Treatment Report - from Craville Studies. A summary of water treatment methods
Education and Action - from Sydney Catchment Authority. The SCA works to increase awareness and understanding of our water supply catchments and dams through information sharing and education. Our aim is to inspire individuals and communities to take positive actions that contribute to catchment health and water quality. Includes HSC online resources
The Botany Aquifer
Treating toxic water useless, warns expert - Sydney Morning Herald 2003Build your own watershed - Activity from US EPA for grades 8-12
The Ban on Bore water - Sydney Morning Herald August 2006
Orica to spend $167 mln cleaning up Botany Bay water - Industry Search December 2004
Drinking Water Contaminants - from US EPA. An introduction to various contaminants in drinking water
Water and Public Health Factsheets - from NSW Department of Public Health, includes Giardiasis and Cryptosporidiosis. The Environmental Health Branch works in collaboration with the Public Health Network which is a network of 16 Public Health Units, each with a dedicated environmental health section.
Safe Food: It's Your Job Too! - food safety lessons were developed by the Food Safety Project at Iowa State University Extension to provide consumers and future consumers with the tools they need to help minimize their risk from harmful pathogens in the food supply.
Bugs in the News! - from the University of Kansas. A collection of articles relating to pathogenic bugs
A-Z Index of Common Health Topics - site maintained by NSW Health. Includes information on diseases such as Ross River Fever and Water and Public Health
Slow Sand Filtration - An introduction to Slow Sand Filtration. The history of slow sand filtration in the United States has been one of reluctant acceptance. Many European cities choose slow sand filtration as a water treatment method because of its simplicity, reliability, and economy (Collins).
National Drinking Water Clearinghouse - a Tech Brief factsheet on Slow Sand Filtration (pdf 212kb)
A simple water filter - Transcript from Radio Australia. An Australian scientist has developed a new water filtration system, an invention that potentially will benefit millions of people in developing countries and would enable anyone in the world to drink water safely.
Parasitology Research - site maintained by the Division of Biology, Kansas State University. Contains details of Cryptosporidium outbreaks world wide
Understanding Intestinal Spore-forming protozoa - from Annals of Internal Medicine. This article aims to summarise recent information about the “new” gastrointestinal protozoal pathogens (cryptosporidia, microsporidia, isospora, and cyclospora) and to help practicing clinicians integrate this information into their clinical databases by emphasizing the similarities among these organisms.
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Louis Pasteur
The Life and Times of Louis Pasteur - by David V. Cohn, Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Louisville Schools of Medicine and Dentistry. An introduction to Louis Pasteur and his work
Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) - from Access Excellence. An introduction to Louis Pasteur and his work
Spontaneous Generation - briefly covers the work of Francesco Redi, Lazzaro Spallanzani and Louis Pasteur with some focus questions, from Kent School District
Spontaneous Generation - from Washington State University. An introduction to Spontaneous Generation
Louis Pasteur - Biography and introduction to his contributions to science
Activity
Pasteur's swan-necked flask experiment - Through this experiment, students learn about the contribution of Pasteur and Koch to our understanding of infectious diseases
Robert Koch
Robert Koch - Biography - from Nobel Prize Official Website
Robert Koch - An introduction to Robert Koch and his scientific contributions
Demonstrating Koch's Postulates - A student sheet for studying Koch's Postulates. Robert Koch was a bacteriologist who lived from 1843 to 1910. In his work on diseases, he was trying to establish whether a microbe, obtained from a diseased patient, was in fact the cause of the disease. This led him to formulate ‘Koch’s Postulates’ - a set of conditions which need to be fulfilled to establish which organism is causing a particular disease.
Microbes
Microbes in Action - from University of Missouri - St. Louis. The Science in the Real World: Microbes in Action program serves to promote an understanding and appreciation of the importance of microorganisms in our world. This program provides scientific information and hands-on activities in microbiology to K-12 teachers via curriculum units, workshops, a newsletter, and this web site.
MicrobeWorld - from American Society for Microbiology. Good education resource for basic understanding of the science, including advice for starting a career, microbial record holders, tools of the trade, and much more.
Name that bug - an educational game from St Louis Community College
The Mystery Spot: Access Excellence Mysteries - from Access Excellence. Various classroom activities
Virology - from Alan Cann, Microbiology Bytes. Various classroom resources
Koch's Postulates - from Alan Cann, Microbiology Bytes
Diseases covered by CSR (Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response) - from WHO, includes African trypanosomiasis, hepatitis, rabies and more
Historical development of our understanding of cause and prevention of malaria
History of Malaria - from The Malaria Site
Ronald Ross - brief biography of Ronald Ross and his work with malaria from the Nobel e-Museum
Malaria - a growing threat - from the Australian Academy of Science, includes the life cycle of malarial parasite
Malaria - from Hoslink, a resource portal for Medical and Biomedical Professionals
Plasmodium Falciparum - Life Cycle Diagram from Atlas of Medical Parasitology
Malaria - from the Why Files
Keeping Malaria at Bay: Insecticide-treated Nets - an introduction to the use of insecticide-treated nets to keep malaria at bayMalaria: An On-line Resource - excellent reources from Division of Laboratory Medicine at Royal Perth Hospital
Malaria in Malawi, Bitter-sweet Success - from ABC Science Online, the Lab
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Pathogens
Fact Sheets - on a range of topics including Adolescent Immunization, Hepatitis B, Reduce the Risk of Infectious Diseases, from National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
Images of Parasites - a page of links, from Ohio State University
Prions
Mad cow disease - a human problem! - from the Australian Academy of Science
Prion Background page - from BioQuest. An introduction to Prions
The Prion Diseases - by Stanley B. Prusiner who won the 1997 Nobel Prize for Medicine for his discovery of Prions, a new biological principle of infection
Prion Diseases and the BSE Crisis - by Stanley B. Prusiner in Science, October, 1997
Prions - transcript of an interview with Stanley Prusiner on the health report, Radio National, ABC
The Neuropathology of CJD - from The National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance Unit. UK
Viruses
All the Virology on the WWW - maintained by the Garry Lab, Tulane University School of Medicine, this site contains of links to all aspects of virology
Medical Virology Lecture Notes - from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, this site covers a number of diseases caused by viruses such as Mumps Viral Gastroenteritis, Influenza, Herpes viruses, Viral Haemorrhagic fevers, Rabies, Rubella as well as details of Vaccination for the prevention of these diseases.
Dr. Donald P. Francis Talks to Teachers About the Ebola Outbreak - transcript from Access Excellence
Dr. Frederick A. Murphy Talks about the Ebola Virus - transcript from Access Excellence
An end to influenza? - from The Academy of Science, printer-friendly version
Avian Influenza - from WHO. Information about 'bird flu'
Bird flu – the pandemic clock is ticking - from NOVA, Australian Academy of Science
Influenza - a fact sheet from World Health Organisation
Emerging and Re-emerging Viruses: An Essay - by Alison Jacobson, Department of Microbiology, University of Cape Town includes ebola and influenza
Kissing the Epstein-Barr virus goodbye? - from NOVA (Science in the News) The Australian Academy of Science
Equine Influenza
Equine influenza - from NSW Department of Primary Industries
Equine influenza - fact sheet from CSIRO
Equine influenza - from Animal Health Australia
Bacteria
Beginning with bacteria - description of different types of bacteria
Bacteria of Medical Importance - from University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Bacteriology
What the Heck is an E. coli? - from the University of Kansas. Details what E. coli is, when it is OK and when it is a problem
Some Interesting Bacteria and Facts About Them - from Des Moines Area Community College's Urban Campus
Protozoans
African trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness) - an introduction from World Health Organisation (WHO)
Human Parasites - from Des Moines Area Community College's Urban Campus
Trypanosoma cruzi and Chagas disease - from Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz Vol. 94, Suppl. I, 1999, a special issue to commemorate the the 90th anniversary of the discovery of Chagas disease
Malaria - a fact sheet from World Health Organisation
Fungi
Fungal Infections - from National Institute of Health, USA
Doctor Fungus - a website dedicated to the dissemination of information about fungal infections via the world-wide web. DoctorFungus gratefully acknowledges the funding for this project that it has received from its pharmaceutical sponsors
Tinea Versicolor - an introduction to this tyoe if fungal disease - from American Academy of Dermatology
Tinea Infections: Athlete's Foot, Jock Itch and Ringworm - from FamilyDoctor.org
Macro-parasites
Hydatids - when a dog is not man's best friend - from NOVA (Science in the News) Australian Academy of Science
Human Parasites - from Des Moines Area Community College's Urban Campus. An introduction to parasitic diseases in humans
Onchocerciasis (river blindness) - fact sheet from CDC
River blindness 'breakthrough' - article from BBC
AntibioticsOunce of prevention - a campaign from National Center for Infectious Diseases, USA
Fleming discovers penicillin 1928 - 1945 - from A Science Odyssey. An introduction to Fleming and his contribution to discovering penicillin
Penicillin, The Wonder Drug - from Botany, University of Hawaii
The Aftermath of Penicillin - from Botany, University of Hawaii
Microbes: What They Do & How Antibiotics Change Them - article from Action Bioscience
Activities
Microbes: Too smart for antibiotics - Lesson Plan, from Action Bioscience
Leaving Certificate Microbiology - educational resources from TeacherNet, Ireland
An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Study of Disease - activities and teaching guide from Teachers Network
Antibiotic Resistance
Microbes: Their Diversity, Antibacterial Targets and Mechanisms of Antibiotic Resistance - from Access Excellence
Microbes: What doesn't kill them makes them stronger - from the Whyfiles
Antimicrobial Resistance - a fact sheet from the WHO
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Infectious diseases
Communicable diseases
Notifications for communicable diseases - data table from Health NSW
Malaria
Learn more about malaria -from Global Health Reporting
Insects, Disease and History - from Montana State University. An introduction to various diseases throughout history
Malaria - a growing threat - from the Australian Academy of Science, includes the life cycle of malarial parasite
Malaria - from the Why Files
Keeping Malaria at Bay: Insecticide-treated Nets - from International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada
Malaria An On-line Resource - excellent reource from Division of Laboratory Medicine at Royal Perth Hospital
Malaria in Malawi, Bitter-sweet Success - from ABC Science Online, the Lab
Arboviruses
Definition of 'Arbovirus' - from Biology Online
Arbovirus Surveillance - a project from Westmead Hospital
Ross River Virus
The New South Wales Arbovirus Surveillance & Mosquito Monitoring Program - includes Barmah Forest Virus and Ross River Fever
West Nile Virus
West Nile Virus factsheet - designed for distribution to households in affected areas (pdf 1011kb)
West Nile Virus Basics - from Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Meningococcal meningitis
Meningococcal: Meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia - from Meningococcal Education. Covers various aspects of the disease, including symptoms and prevention
Meningococcal meningitis - fact sheet from World Health Organisation
Meningitis - from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Frequently asked questions about the disease
Dengue Fever
Dengue Fever - from National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Dengue Fever - from Center for Disease Control and Prevention
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Immunity and immunisation
Microflora imbalance
Biology 9.4.4. Defence against disease - includes report scaffoldiing, from HSC Online
The Bacterial Flora of Humans - from Todar's Online Textbook of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin
Crohn's Disease - from National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. An introduction to Chron's Disease
Crohn's Disease - Interactive tutorials, from National Institutes of Health. Includes interactive tutorial and text
Candidiasis - from Mycology Online. Introduction to various forms Candidiasis can occur in. Includes pictures
Is Candida an Endocrine Disorder? - from National Candida Society, UK. The National Candida Society was set up by Dr. Christine Tomlinson, an ex-sufferer. Publicity for the launch was provided by the Mail on Sunday's YOU magazine; with this website as supplementary material.
Immunology
The Constitutive Defenses of the Host against Microbial Pathogens - from University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Bacteriology Online textbook
Lymphocyte Homing Research - on-line lecture, together with diagrams and electromicroscope photos, on the role of lymphocytes in immunity from Arthur O. Anderson, M.D., U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases
How Lymphocytes Produce Antibody - from CELLS alive! includes photomicrograph, text and animation
Immunisation
Development of Polio Vaccines - from Access Excellence. An introduction to the development vaccines against Polio
Salk produces polio vaccine: 1952 - from A Science Odyssey. An introduction to Salk's contribution to the Polio vaccine
Vaccines--How and Why? - from Access Excellence, includes how vaccines works and how to make vaccines
Immunisation - protecting our children from disease - from NOVA (Science in the News) The Australian Academy of Science
What is immunisation? - from the GP resources, Victoria. Introduction and definition of immunisation
Immunisation Resources - from NE Valley Division of Victorian GP Society. Links to various resources
Immunization Safety - from World Health Organization
Edible Vaccines - from Alkek Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A & M University. An article about edible vaccines
The Hepatitis B Story - article from Beyond Discovery, The National Academy of Sciences
Smallpox
Smallpox - fact sheet from Department of Health and Aging, Australian Government
Smallpox information sheets - fact sheet from CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA)
Organ transplant, rejection and the immune system
Understanding the Immune System - Immunology and Transplants - from the National Institute of Health
How Organ Transplants Work - from How Stuff Works, including rejection of organ in Living with a New Organ
Transplant Rejection - notes for heart transplant patients
Transplant Rejection - from American Association of Kidney Patients
Repeated Transplant Rejection: Why Does It Happen? - from American Association of Kidney Patients
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Prevention and control of disease
Public Health Programmes
A-Z Health Topics - information from NSW Health, Public Health Divisions. Fact sheets in pdf format
The World Health Organization Smallpox Eradication Programme - an article that outlines the programme that eradicated smallpox with discussion questions, from University of Toronto
World Health Organization declares smallpox eradicated 1980 - an article from A Science Odyssey
Diptheria - epidemiology, treatment, vaccine programme from World Health Organisation (pdf 330kb)
Diphtheria in the Former Soviet Union: Reemergence of a Pandemic Disease - from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol4no4/vitek.htmDiphtheria Outbreak -- Russian Federation, 1990-1993 - an article from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Poliomyelitis - fact sheet from World Health Organisation
Oral Diseases - from Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (pdf 308kb)
Water fluoridation - from Victoria Government Health Information. An introduction to the benefits of water fluoridation
Community Water Fluoridation - from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Water Fluoridation In New South Wales - article, from Medical News Today
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Epidemiological studies
Epidemiology - from John Kimball's Biology Pages. An introduction to Epidemiology
Epidemiology - from Medical Anthropology, Palomar College, San Marcos, California. An introduction to Epidemiology
Epidemiology for the Uninitiated - an on-line textbook from the British Medical Journal
Adventures in Epidemiology - web site of Reimert Thorolf Ravenholt, MD MPH, President, Population Health Imperatives, Washington. This page links to an autobiography of an epidemiologist and numerous case studies in epidemiology.
Report of the New South Wales Chief Health Officer - from the Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch, Public Health Division, Health NSW, includes statistics for tobacco use, nutrition and skin cancer for NSW in various years
All lectures - in the Epidemiology Supercourse, PowerPoint presentations on a vast list of diseases e.g. Toxic Oil Sydrome and Diabetes, excellent background information for teachers, from University of Pittsburgh
Lung Cancer
Epidemiology - from John Kimball's Biology Pages, uses Cigarette Smoking as example of epidemiology
Lung Cancer Dissertation - from Leicester University, includes epimediology of lung cancer, UK data
Lung cancer: Still a significant problem among Queensland men & an increasing problem among Queensland women - from Queensland Department of Health (pdf 51kb)
Lung cancer - New cases and deaths - chart from NSW Department of Health
Activity
Demonstrating an Epidemic - a classroom activity from Access Excellence
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Non-infectious diseases
Inherited Diseases
Human Gene Testing - from Beyond Discovery, The National Academy of Sciences. An article about human gene testing
The Genetics File - Human Genetics Counselling material from Victoria. This resource is targeted to Victorian GPs but has information relevant for GPs throughout Australia.
Understanding Cancer Series: Gene Testing - from National Cancer Institute, USA, various slides on this topic.
Genetic Disorders - from the Genetic Science Learning Center. An introduction to genetic disorders in a virtual library setting
Human genetics: A Resource for Teachers - lists genetic diseases categorised under the following headings: autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, X-linked dominant, X-linked recessive, Y-linked, chromosomal and multi-factorial; includes suggestions for class activities and relevant links
Hemochromatosis - from National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, National Institute of Health. An introduction to the condition of hemochromatosis
Hereditary Haemochromatosis - fact sheet from Centre for Genetics Education (pdf, 301kb)
Support Groups and Information Sites for Genetic Diseases - list of human gentic diseases with links to support and information sites
Calculating your odds for disease - a lesson plan from National Institute of Environmental Health, USA (pdf, 79kb)
Nutritional deficiencies
Nutrition History - includes nutritional diseases such as beri-beri, pellagra, rickets and scurvey, from Vanderbilt Medical Center
Pointing the bone at osteoporosis - from the Australian Academy of Science. An introduction to osteoporosis; at risk groups, prevention and treatment
Pellagra shown to be dietary disease 1915 - from A Science Odyssey. An introduction to the discovery of Pellagra disease
Dr. Joseph Goldberger & the War on Pellagra - an on-line exhibition from the National Institute of Health
A Body of Evidence - from NutriQuest (McGraw Hill). This page describes widely recognised symptoms of nutrient deficiency, excess, and toxicity in each major body system.
Nutrition and Your Eyes: In a Nutshell - from All About Vision. An introduction to maintaining the health of your eyes
Unravelling the Enigma of Vitamin D - an article on rickets from Beyond Discovery, The National Academy of Sciences
Environmental diseases
Cancer
Calculating your odds for disease - a lesson plan from National Institute of Environmental Health, USA (pdf, 79kb)
What is Melanoma? - an introduction to the causes and identification of melanoma, from the Melanoma website
Queensland Sun: How to protect yourself from the sun - from Queensland Beaches website
Understanding Melanoma - from Cancer Council NSW. Introduction to melanoma and advice on the prevention and treatment of the condition
Melanoma - from the Cancer Council of Victoria. Includes diagrams
Asthma
The rise and rise of asthma - an article introducing asthma and its causes, from the Australian Academy of Science
Minamata disease
Epidemiology of Minamata Disease - a PowerPoint presentation, good background material for teachers
Chapter - 4 Minamata disease - a chapter from Industrial Pollution in Japan published by United Nations University Press
Minamata Disaster - a case study from American University, Washington
The Poisoning of Minamata - a historical case study of pollution in a closed ecosystem
The Day the Cats of Minamata, Japan threw themselves into the Bay! - an anecdotal description of Minamata disease
Mercury poisoning in the Amazon: The tip of the iceberg - presented by Dr jean Lebel from the International Development Research Centre
Health - Mercury poisoning disease re-emerges - an article from BBC NEWS
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Plant diseases
Symptoms of Plant Diseases - from University of Florida, includes images
Plant Disease Lessons - from the American Phytopathological Society - includes lessons on Tobacco Mosaic Virus, Dutch Elm disease, Citrus Canker and Coffee Rust
Plant Disease Central - from University of Nebraska, Lincoln. This site aims to be the plant disease information and management resource for the state of Nebraska.
Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic - facts sheets available from Cornell University
The Red Gum Lerp Psyllid, a new pest of Eucalyptus species in California - from the College of Natural Resources, University of California at Berkeley, good images of this Australian insect pest and the damage it causes
Pest Management and Identification - from the University of California including pests of plants and plant diseases
Key to the forest insect pests of Paupua New Guinea - contains picture of infected plants
Pest and diseases fact sheets - leaflets on quarantine diseases not yet found in Australia or if in Australia of limited distribution and under active control. Includes Citrus canker, Dutch elm disease, Fireblight of apples and pears, Karnal bunt of wheat, Lethal diseases of palms, Pitch canker and Sugarcane smut. From Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Australia
Management of Blackleg Disease in Canola - from Pioneer Hi-bred International
Pathogen List - including Plant Diseases caused by viruses, bacteria and fungi, from National Istitute of Livestock and Grassland Science, Japan
Activities
Plant Pathology - Demonstrating Koch's Postulates - from Science and Plants for Schools. An activity that uses apples as the culture medium
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Quarantine measures
Education - resources for school teachers from Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
Review of the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy - from Quarantine and Exports Council. Good background information for teachers
Fact Sheets for schools - a list of fact sheets available from Australia Quarantine and Inspection Service
Animal pests and diseases - a list of fact sheets available from Australia Quarantine and Inspection Service
Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy Pests and Disease factsheets - For information on exotic pests, weeds and diseases
The Australian Quarantine Inspection Service and the need for quarantine - from NOVA, The Australian Academy of Science
What can't be mailed to Australia? - from Australian Fisheries and Forestry. A list of products that can't be mailed to Australia
Newcastle Disease
Local virus behind Newcastle disease outbreaks - article from CSIRO
Newcastle Disease Management plan - from Animal Health Asutralia. An introduction to Newcastle Disease and its management
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or Mad Cow Disease
BSE - from Food Standards Australia. An introduction to BSE
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