Modeling Infection & Immunity
Learn about 3D Molecular Designs' project focused on infectious diseases and molecular technologies.
Project Summary
Modeling Infection & Immunity: From Molecules to Cells
This project – Modeling Infection & Immunity: From Molecules to Cells – will create a professional development experience for high school science teachers focused on infectious diseases and the molecular technologies that are being used to control them. The project consists of two distinct phases. In the first, we will create a variety of hands-on instructional materials – composed of both foam-based schematic models and accurate 3D-printed models of proteins – to bring to life molecular stories of the process of science. We will use a framework that emphasizes how the foundational concepts of molecular biology established in the past (Yesterday’s Science) provides the basis for the amazing technology that has been brought to bear on the current SARS-Cov-2 pandemic (Today’s Science) and also lays the groundwork for even more powerful defenses in the future (Tomorrow’s Science).
In the second phase of this project, we will create a professional learning experience in which the project’s instructional materials will be introduced to high school science teachers. The project’s goals are:
- To increase the teachers’ content knowledge regarding the molecular mechanisms of infectious diseases
- To model for the teachers a student-centered active learning pedagogy that values questions over answers
The project features a formal teacher empowerment program in which a small group of veteran teachers are trained to serve as mentors for teachers who are new to the project.
High school biology and chemistry teachers will be recruited into this project via presentations and exhibits at state, regional, and national meetings of science educators. A plan is in place to proactively accept teachers from schools with a significant population of underserved minority students. And finally, the broad dissemination of the project’s instructional materials will be achieved through our established partnerships with other science outreach organizations whose programs focus on URM students in urban Milwaukee, Chicago, and rural Nebraska and South Dakota.
Material Development
Our primary focus of the past year has been the development of a large collection of physical models and hands-on, manipulative materials related to infectious diseases and immunity. These instructional materials are currently being field-tested in our Teacher Mentor Board classrooms. They will be extensively used in the Modeling Infection & Immunity summer course in June and then field-tested further by those participants in the coming year. These include:
Cell Modeling Kit
Foam models of both prokaryotic (Gram positive and Gram negative) and eukaryotic cells allow students to model cell communication, protein synthesis, protein trafficking, horizontal gene transfer, and more.
Virus Expansion Pack
An expansion pack for use with our cell modeling kit that focuses on the viral infection cycle. The kit will focus on the influenza infection cycle and how the body responds to a viral infection.
Penicillin-β-lactamase Modeling Kit
Evolution has generated many novel solutions to antibiotics. This bacterial membrane expansion pack focuses on how antibiotics interfere with bacteria, and how bacteria combat their presence.
Bacterial Membrane Modeling Kit
Models of both gram-positive and gram-negative cell membranes help students understand the morphological differences between bacterial species, and identify the antibiotics used to attack them.
Virus Infection Cycle Modeling Kit
A virus infection cycle kit allows students to look at the virus structure and function at a molecular level. This kit focuses on the influenza infection cycle and includes both foam and 3D modeling components.
Antibody Diagnostics Modeling Kit
Monoclonal antibodies play a huge role in diagnostics today. Model both an ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) test or lateral flow tests with this foam-based kit.
RNA Vaccine Design Challenge
RNA vaccines were rapidly developed for use in the SARS Co-V-2 pandemic, yet the sequence of nucleotides is vastly different from the virus. Explore how (and why) the vaccine was optimized for use
Antibody Diversity Kit
Explore how gene rearrangement allows for the tremendous diversity of antibodies. Produce and build a 3D antibody focusing on the complimentary determining regions of the antigen binding site.
Β-lactamase Model
A 3D printed model that focuses on the molecular mechanisms that allow beta-lactamase to deactivate penicillin. A removable penicillin molecule facilitates further discussion of antibiotic structures.
Penicillin & Antibiotic Collection with AR
A 3D Printed model of penicillin with a removable functional group allows it to convert it into methicillin, ampicillin, carbenicillin, and azlocillin. AR overlays will show how these different antibiotics interact with bacteria.
Anthrax Modeling Collection
3D-printed models of the protective antigen, its pH-induced conformational changes, and its interaction with edema and lethal factors explain why Bacillus anthracis is a dangerous pathogen.
Lysozyme Model and Protein Folding Kit
Before the discovery of penicillin, Alexander Flemming was intrigued by the antibiotic properties of lysozyme. An interactive 3D printed peptide chain allows for the examination of how a protein folds into its tertiary structure.
Influenza Collection
3D printed models of the Influenza A virus, hemagglutinin surface protein, and two different pH triggered confirmational changes allow students to explore the details of viral infection at the molecular level.
TLR-8 Model
Toll-like receptor 8 is a protein that plays an important role in the innate immune response of humans. Investigate how this and other TLRs identify pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) in an effort to defend the cell.
MHC Modeling Kit
Major Histocompatibility Complexes play an important role in initiating multiple cell-mediated immune responses. Model how both MHC class I and MHC class II activate other immune cells with this 3D modeling kit.
NIH SEPA Announcement
3D Molecular Designs to develop classroom materials and professional learning courses focused on infectious diseases.
Research is supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number 5R25GM146236. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.