LEPROSY

MAX, MORITZ, ERIC, DANIEL

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**~Introduction Section~**



 [|__http://summerinvellore.blogspot.com/2011/07/hands-on-experience-with-leprosy.html__]

Bacteria name: //Mycobacterium leprae// (causes Leprosy, or Hansen’s Disease) Labeled diagram of bacteria:



**~Mechanisms Section~**

 Leprosy is caused by Mycobacterium leprae, a bacteria that scientists believe is transmitted from an infected person to another person via nasal droplets. If infected nasal droplets get into some one's nose, that person may begin to be infected. Whether or not that person can be effected by Leprosy may be genetic, with seven genes coming into play.

 Once in the body. Leprosy tends to attack cooler areas. This is because Mycobacterium leprae grows well in areas that are 80.9 F-86 F. Once in a host cell, this bacteria takes about 12 days to reproduce. This results in a long incubation period before symptoms start to occur.

 Due to Mycobacterium leprae not being a virus, it does not go through the lytic or lysogenic cycles. Generally it reproduces by conjugation, where two bacteria cells share DNA.

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**~Application Section~** **List of symptoms** ** Picture of the symptoms ****:** http://summerinvellore.blogspot.com/2011/07/hands-on-experience-with-leprosy.html
 * Skin Lesions which change the color of your skin to a lighter shade, fail to heal after several weeks or even months and loose of feeling in affected areas
 * Complete de-sensitivity in extremities
 * Loss of muscle strength

**Vaccine** There is currently no working vaccine for leprosy as it occurs mainly in poor countries so no serious research has been made to create one.
 * Antibiotics such as dapsone, rifampin, clofazamine, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, and minocycline are used to treat the infection; these antibiotics are usually used in combination
 * Aspirin and prednisone, or thalidomide, are used to reduce inflammation

**Sources**

1. "The Bacteria." Stanford University. Stanford University. Web. 08 Mar. 2012. .

2. Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial. "Causes, Incidence, and Risk Factors." Leprosy. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 Nov. 0000. Web. 08 Mar. 2012. .

3. Sinha, Pranay. "Summer in Vellore." : A Hands on Experience with Leprosy. Blogspot, 29 July 2011. Web. 08 Mar. 2012. .

4. Davis, Charles P. "MedicineNet.com." MedicineNet. MedicineNet. Web. 08 Mar. 2012. .

5. Postlethwait, John H., and Janet L. Hopson. Modern Biology. Orlando: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2006. Print.