Language Perfect World Championships

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A WORLD CHAMPION?

Year 7 French students at Sirius College Eastmeadows Campus will be competing in the fun Language Perfect World Championships between Monday 15th May and Thursday 25th May. This is an online competition with an amazing prize pool available! There is also the chance to win a $100 lunch if they can successfully score a higher student average result for their class than their Year 7 French rivals at the Meadow Fair and Sunshine Campuses. Bon courage!

Biology students visit LaTrobe University

Biology Students Visit LaTrobe University

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Biology Students Visit LaTrobe University

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Year 11 & 12 Biology students spent half a day at La Trobe University from the 8th-10th of May, taking part in ELISA ASSAY. The morning session involved research work, including influenza virus antibody detection. We then went to attend a lecture given by a university professor on immune system which demonstrated various components of the immune system. The 2nd session involved unit 3 AOS 2 revision given by Dr Jef which allowed students to practise exam questions and skill strategies. Students enjoyed laboratory work as the task gave students a chance to actually do the ELISA test. The practical activities engaged students to handle laboratory equipment not normally seen in school and gained an understanding of infectious diseases, Influenza in particular. They used microscopy to identify immune cells in the innate and adaptive immune response.

Practical workshop: Immunology and Disease

Background information:

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, causes a more severe illness than the common cold. In most parts of Australia, influenza outbreaks occur during the cooler months- between late autumn and early spring.

Of all the cases of flu-like illness that occur over winter months, between 20- 30% are attributed to influenza virus infection. Caused by a group of viruses (the influenza viruses), the flu is highly contagious and is spread by contact with fluids from coughs and sneezes.

Of the four types of influenza viruses A, B, C and D, influenza A is the more common. Human influenza A and B viruses cause seasonal epidemics of influenza. Influenza type C infections generally cause a mild respiratory illness and are not thought to cause epidemics. Influenza D viruses primarily affect cattle and are not known to infect or cause illness in people.

Influenza A viruses infects humans, pigs, birds, horses, seals, whales, and other animals. Wild birds are natural hosts. They are divided into subtypes based on two proteins on the surface of the virus: the hemagglutinin (H or HA) and the neuraminidase (N or NA). There are 18 different hemagglutinin subtypes and 11 different neuraminidase subtypes. (H1 through H18 and N1 through N11 respectively). These can be combined in various ways. Currently, the three most common subtypes of flu A in general human circulation are H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2.

An influenza pandemic occurs when a new strain of influenza emerges to which most of the human population has not been previously exposed. This means that immunity within the community is low, allowing rapid infection and transmission of the new strain amongst people on a global scale. Over the course of the past 500 years it is thought that about 13 influenza pandemics have occurred.

The current H1N1 arose as a new strain in 2009 and caused the “swine-flu” pandemic in that year - first pandemic in 41 years. This virus had many characteristics of viruses circulating in swine and is also related to the 1918 pandemic virus. Since then it has become a circulating strain. Hence current seasonal vaccines protect against this H1N1, a H1N2, a H3N2 and a influenza B virus.