What happens when your immune system is too strong?

It is important to have a healthy immune system.  But sometimes an immune response can be to strong and can lead to death.  Explain how this happens, what can trigger this strong response, and how scientists are able to help stop the overly strong immune response after reading the sciencedaily.com article:  Research Could Lead to Way to Halt Deadly Immune Response

How can you stop the spread of a virus?

Today in class we learned how to stop the spread of a virus through a lab simulation.  What are the different ways we can effectively treat, prevent, and stop the spread of viruses? 

Use the following article from sciencedaily.org and your notes to help you answer this question.  Targeted Prevention Stopped Spread of H1N1 at Alabama Boys Camp

Vaccinations

We learned that antibiotics do not treat viruses.  (Why do they not work on viruses?)  Scientists are constantly trying to find ways to fight viruses.  But the best way to fight a virus is to prevent it, through vaccines.  But there seems to be a lot of controversy about using vaccines.  Some parents choose not to have their children vaccinated. 

Read the following article:  From the infectious diseases meeting: What's with the vaccine-o-phobia? by Nathan Seppa.  What is the controversy.  Why do some people choose not to vaccinate?  Why do some scientists feel very strongly about vaccinated everyone?  What do you believe?

How can we fight a virus?

Antibiotics can be used to fight and treat bacterial infections.  But what about viruses?  What can we do to prevent a viral infection?   Is there a way to treat a viral infection?  Why or why  not?

Scientists may have an answer.  Read the following Science Daily article. 'Broad Spectrum' Antiviral Fights Multitude of Viruses. 

Explain how this compound works.