title: Triatominae biochemistry goes to school: evaluation of a novel tool for teaching basic biochemical concepts of Chagas disease vectors.
abstract: We evaluate a new approach to teaching the basic biochemistry mechanisms that regulate the biology of Triatominae, major vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. We have designed and used a comic book, "Carlos Chagas: 100 years after a hero's discovery" containing scientific information obtained by seven distinguished contemporary Brazilian researchers working with Triatominaes. Students (22) in the seventh grade of a public elementary school received the comic book. The study was then followed up by the use of Concept Maps elaborated by the students. Six Concept Maps elaborated by the students before the introduction of the comic book received an average score of 7. Scores rose to an average of 45 after the introduction of the comic book. This result suggests that a more attractive content can greatly improve the knowledge and conceptual understanding among students not previously exposed to insect biochemistry. In conclusion, this study illustrates an alternative to current strategies of teaching about the transmission of neglected diseases. It also promotes the diffusion of the scientific knowledge produced by Brazilian researchers that may stimulate students to choose a scientific career.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Sinalização Celular (LabSiCel) Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, CEP 21941-902; Prédio do Centro de Ciências da Saúde Bloco D Subsolo Sala 05, Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, CEP 21941-902.
authors.forename: Leonardo Rodrigues
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: Cecília de Oliveira
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Cudischevitch
authors.forename: Alan Brito
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.forename: Gustavo Bartholomeu
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lannes
authors.forename: Mário Alberto Cardoso da
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Silva-Neto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D001669:Biochemical Phenomena; D001671:Biochemistry / Q000193:education*; D001878:Books, Illustrated; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000469:parasitology*; D002648:Child; D004199:Disease Vectors; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D013664:Teaching Materials; D013997:Time Factors; D014225:Triatominae / Q000469:parasitology*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Chagas disease; Concept Maps; education; insect biochemistry