Contextualization

Viruses are biological entities that act as obligatory intracellular parasites. This means that they can only reproduce by acting within the cells of other organisms. They are acellular, meaning they do not have a cell, and they are also devoid of organelles, meaning they do not have their own metabolism that allows them to perform vital functions without a host. Due to these characteristics, viruses are considered by many scientists as beings "at the frontier of life".

Since their discovery, viruses have been the subject of intense studies aiming to understand their structure, origin, infection and replication mechanisms, as well as their interaction with hosts. Diseases caused by viruses, known as viral diseases, have been responsible for epidemics and pandemics that have significantly impacted human history.

Viruses are tiny, but they have an impressive diversity, with thousands of different types, each with their own structural characteristics and modes of infection. Therefore, understanding these organisms is essential to comprehend and prevent diseases, as well as to develop new therapies.

Importance of Studying Viruses

Studying viruses is of great importance for public health, considering that many human diseases are caused by viruses, including some of the most deadly ones, such as AIDS and Ebola. Furthermore, viral disease outbreaks can be devastating, as is the case with the COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Moreover, studying viruses has also brought many advances to molecular biology and genetics. The ability of viruses to hijack cellular machinery to replicate has been used to better understand how cells function. Additionally, techniques like CRISPR, which revolutionized genetic editing, were originally discovered by studying the interaction between bacteria and viruses.

Practical Activity: The Secret Life of Viruses

Project Objectives

1. Understand the basic structure of viruses and the variety of infection methods.
2. Learn about the main viral diseases that affect humans, their transmission mechanisms, symptoms, treatment, and prevention methods.
3. Discover how technology can help us understand and combat viruses.
4. Develop group collaboration skills, research, information synthesis, and presentation.
5. Learn how to write a project report following academic work rules.

Detailed Project Description

Divided into groups of 3 to 5 students, each group will be responsible for studying and presenting a specific type of virus, bringing an interdisciplinary approach involving Biology and History. The total duration of the project will be about 15 hours of work for each participant.

Required Materials

1. Computer with internet access.
2. Text editing and presentation programs (e.g., Microsoft Office, Google Docs, Canva).
3. Camera for video recording (can be a smartphone camera).
4. Biology and history books for research.

Step-by-Step Guide for Activity Execution

1. Research: Each group must choose a virus and gather information from books and the internet about: a) structure and infection mechanism; b) viral diseases it causes in humans; c) treatments and preventions; d) historical and social impacts.
2. Creation of a Slide Show: With the collected information, groups must create a concise and informative presentation about the virus. This presentation should contain the research findings of each group.
3. Video Recording: In addition to the slide presentation, students must record an explanatory video presenting their research. The video can be a reenactment, a documentary, an interview, etc., as long as it is creative and informative.
4. Report Creation: Students must then write a report on the project. This report should include:
   • Introduction: Contextualization of the theme, project objective, importance of studying viruses.
   • Development: Detailed description of the research process and project development, description of the studied virus, and discussion of the results obtained.
   • Conclusion: Reflection on the project, summary of the main points addressed, and lessons learned.
   • Bibliography: References of books, websites, and other materials used during the research.

Project Deliverables

At the end of this project, each group must present:

1. A slide presentation about the studied virus.
2. An explanatory video about the virus.
3. A written report containing all collected information, as well as details about the project's development and execution.

The slide presentation and video will serve to convey information in a didactic and engaging way, allowing students to work on synthesis and presentation skills. The report will complement these materials, explaining in detail the entire research and project development process, providing a detailed record of all work done and allowing for a deeper evaluation of each group's learning and effort.