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Define viruses as microbes in terms of size, morphology, and response
to physical, chemical, and biological agents of control.
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Differentiate viruses from other human disease-causing microbes.
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Name the parts of a virion particle and be able to assemble the parts
into correct diagrammatic order.
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Explain the function of each part of a viron particle.
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Describe the types of viral symmetry and give two examples of each.
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Explain the process of replication for both enveloped and naked viruses.
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Define interferon in terms of its role in viral infection.
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Explain why antibiotics are not effective against viruses.
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For each virus listed below, state route of transmission and explain
mechanism(s) of pathogenesis.
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State the Order, Family, Genus, Species, nucleic acid type and strandedness
[e.g., single, double, etc.] for each of the viruses listed below.
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Given the common characteristics of a virus, and using available resources,
classify it by order, family, genera, and species.
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Associate specific disease(s) with infection by the viruses listed
below.
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Practice laboratory safety as described in the OSHA CFR 29 and all
subsequent regulations including instructions in universal precautions.
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Identify types of safety equipment and inspect and maintain safety equipment
including fire extinguishers, safety showers, eyewash stations, safety
storage cabinets, splash guards, biological and fume hoods.
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Recognize and report hazardous situations according to established laboratory
policy, take actions to minimize injury to self and others, and to prevent
further occurrences.
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Follow documentation procedures for work-related accidents.
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Adhere to all laboratory safety protocols including disposal of biohazardous
materials, safe use of instrumentation, specimens, and reagents and demonstrate
proper body mechanics and health habits in all work endeavors.
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Ask appropriate scientific questions, communicate results, and demonstrate
ability to evaluate and draw conclusions.
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Evaluate virological laboratory test data to: (a) recognize common/technical
problems; (b) verify test results; (c) check for and identify possible
sources of pre-analytical and analytical error; (d) determine possible
inconsistent results; (e) recognize health and disease states; and (g)
to assess the accuracy of procedures for a given test.
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Identify the specimen of choice when infection by any one of the viruses
listed below is suspected.
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Provide instructions for collection of clinical samples including urine,
CSF, peripheral blood, stool, sputum, and vesicle/lesion samples with
regard to timing of sample collection, proper containers for collection
and transport, use of transport medium, and short- and long-term storage
if testing of sample(s) is delayed.
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Match type of specimen required for viral infection investigation by
principal body system affected.
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Discuss the common methods used to detect the presence of viral antigen(s),
nucleic acid, or antibody in clinical specimens in terms of analytical
principles, method advantages and disadvantages, appropriate use, and
method alternatives.
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Define cytopathic effect [CPE] and give three examples of CPE.
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Apply knowledge of basic laboratory procedures in order to perform
analyses important in the detection of viral infection.
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Recommend the appropriate diagnostic viral laboratory course of action
for the type of sample submitted and virology test requested.
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Develop and use a virology vocabulary.
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Correlate laboratory and clinical data with a diagnosis of viral infection.
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State definitions for general terminology used in mycology.
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Correctly recognize, from fungal cultures, photographs, or drawings
common mycological structures.
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Given a fungal culture, accurately describe its texture, topography,
and color.
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Given the sexual reproduction of a fungus, discuss its taxonomy, including
possible types of asexual reproduction, hyphal septation, and two medically
important representative genera.
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State whether infected material from a specific body site represents
a superficial, cutaneous, subcutaneous, or systemic mycosis.
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Given a fungal structure, state if it is reproductive or non-reproductive,
and if it is the former, briefly describe how it reproduces.
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List at least four general rules for good fungal specimen collection.
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Correctly collect and process a fungal specimen from a given body source.
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List at least two fungi which may be recovered from a given body site.
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Explain why respiratory and urine specimens are collected in the morning,
and why 24-hour collections should be avoided.
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State two reasons why direct examination of every specimen for mycology
is essential.
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Discuss the types of specimen direct examinations, including the principle,
procedure, and appearance of fungi in each.
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List the rationale for use of the different primary isolation media
for various fungi.
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List the optimal incubation temperature(s) for primary fungal cultures.
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Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of the tease
mount, cellophane tape, slide culture, modified slide culture, and coverslip
sandwich techniques for fungal examination.
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List the pitfalls of skin tests for fungal infections.
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List immunologic methods for fungal antibody testing and fungal antigen
testing, respectively.
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List possible causes of false positive results when testing for cryptococcal
antigen, and ways to decrease false positives.
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List four methods of fungal culture preservation.
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List the five basic classes of antifungal agents and give one example
of each. Discuss which mycoses (systemic disease, dermatophytes, yeasts,
subcutaneous) are treated by each class of agents.
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Discuss problems with successful antifungal treatment of immunocompromised
patients.
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Discuss at least five common properties of fungal opportunists.
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Identify from fungal colonies, microscopic preparations, photos and
drawings common opportunistic fungi.
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Describe the importance of shield cells and foot cells in the identification
of opportunistic organisms.
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Given a fungal microscopic preparation, classify the organism as aseptate
or septate, and if septate, categorize as hyaline or dematiaceous.
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Compare and contrast superficial and cutaneous mycoses.
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Identify hairs with endothrix invasion, ectothrix invasion, and in
vitro perforation.
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Identify from culture, microscopic appearance, biochemical characteristics,
and mycosis fungi causing superficial and cutaneous mycoses.
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Describe the clinical characteristics and treatment of the common cutaneous
mycoses and state with which organism each is associated.
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List the three dermatophyte genera; state which body sites (skin, nails,
ectothrix hair, endothrix hair) are infected by each genus; and describe
the microscopic characteristics, especially macro- and microconidia, that
are typical for each genus.
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Identify from culture, microscopic appearance, biochemical characteristics,
and mycosis fungi causing subcutaneous mycoses.
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List two properties that Blastomyces dermatitidis, Paracoccidioides
brasiliensis, Histoplasma capsulatum, and Coccidioides immitis all share.
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Identify characteristic fungal structures associated with the systemic
fungi.
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Briefly describe blastomycosis, paracoccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis,
and coccidioidomycosis, including any special epidemiologic (geographic)
associations, mode of transmission, causative agents, and main types of
clinical infection.
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List the requirements for the safe handling of mold and clinical specimens
in the laboratory.
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Discuss safety precautions to use when working with systemic pathogens.
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Correlate laboratory data with physiological conditions for the purpose
of assessing the validity of the results.
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Ask appropriate scientific questions and demonstrate ability to evaluate
and draw conclusions.
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Utilize correct instrumentation, statistical and mathematical applications,
reagent preparation and storage, specimen collection and handling, quality
assurance and quality control.
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Apply laboratory safety as described in the OSHA of 1970, 29 USCA section
655 and all subsequent regulations including instructions in universal
precautions which is incorporated by reference in the safe use of laboratory
equipment and procedures.
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Demonstrate effective interpersonal relationships in working with others
in the laboratory.