1/2 MOD 7 Flashcards
(39 cards)
Prions
Non cellular, protein that has been altered from its normal structure and can then alter other proteins to develop more prions, creating a chain like reactions.
Causes scrapie in sheep,
Viruses
Non cellular, consist of DNA or RNA enclosed in protein, live inside living cell. They are so small cannot be seen with microscope. Causes influenza, cold, foot and mouth
Bacteria
Prokaryotic, very simple cells without internal membranes, cell wall e.g. boils, tuberculosis
Protozoans
Microscopic single celled organisms with internal membrane bound organelles, Eukaryotic e.g. malaria
Fungi
Eukaryotic. Heterotrophic, cannot produce own food, organisms. Some (yeasts) are unicellular others consist of long branching threads
cause ringworm, blight in plants, mildew, Panama disease
Macro-organisms
Eukaryotic. Organisms that are visible to the naked eye, also called parasites.
e.g. fleas, ticks, tapeworms, plant parasites
Validity
a measure of how well experiment tests hypothesis
e.g. control variables
accuracy
how close measured value is to true value
e.g. appropriate equipment and technique
reliability
consistency of measurements - repeat 3x
Risk assessment
do not incubate at 37 as might grow pathogenic growth
3 modes of transmission
direct contact: the transfer of the pathogen via exposure to infected skin or body secretions
Indirect: the transfer of the pathogen to a new host via a non-living object
Vector transmission/borne disease, insect bites:
Direct
PTP
DS
Person to person contact: transmission occurs when an infected person touches or exchanges body fluids with someone else e.g. sexually transmitted diseases, skin to skin
Droplet spread (LESS THAN 1.5m): the spray of droplets during coughing, sneezing, can spread infectious disease, requires close proximity as droplets fall to ground e.g. influenza
Indirect
A
C
C
airborne transmission: some infectious agents travel long distances and remain suspended in the air for an extended period of time e.g. common cold
Contaminated objects (fomites): some organisms live on objects for a short time. If touching an object soon after an infected person does, you are exposed to infection, transmission occurs when touching nose, eyes, mouth before washing hands e.g. E.coli
Contaminated food and drinking water (vehicular transmission): infectious diseases can be transmitted via contaminated food and water E.g. E.coli is often transmitted through improperly handled produce or undercooked meat.
Vector transmission/borne disease (insect bites)
Some infectious agents are transmitted by insects especially those that suck blood. These include mosquitos, fleas, ticks. The insects become infected when they feed on infected hosts, such as birds, animals, humans e.g. malaria and dengue fever
Louis Pasteur: identifying cause of disease
1. fermentation
2. pasteurisation
3. Germ theory
4. Vaccination
- fermentation: he studied fermentation of beet juice and found that the process was due to the presence of living organisms, yeast
- Pasteurisation: Found that other microorganisms were responsible for the souring (turning to vinegar) of alcohol and that heating the solution kills bacteria. –> today, process of pasteurisation ensures milk is free of disease causing micro-organisms
- Germ theory: Pasteur showed that microorganisms came from pre-existing microorganisms through his swan neck bottle experiment. One flask with a long straight neck and one with a curved swan neck –> Pasteur boils broth in both flasks to begin –> leaves flask in open environment for 3 days –> microbial growth was observed in the straight necked flasks but no growth in curved swan neck flask –> spontaneous generation was dead and Pasteur published his germ theory
- he found a way to weaken bacteria so that they are introduced to a host, causing the body to recognise real infections and be ready. He produced vaccine that prevented chickens from developing chicken cholera, and a vaccine for anthrax then for rabies.
- Pasteur had established the principle of immunity and provided an effective way to prevent infectious disease
Robert Koch and his experiment
- provided proof that microscopic pathogens caused diseased through experiments with the disease in anthrax sheep
- Bacteria are isolated –> the microorganisms are grown in pure culture –> the microorganisms are identified, the microorganisms are injected into a healthy animal –> the disease is reproduced in the second animal, microorganisms are isolated from this animal –> pathogenic microorganisms are grown in pure culture –> identical microorganisms are identified –> bacteria can be compared –> Koch was able to state a series of steps that can identify the causative organism of an infectious disease.
Kochs postulates
Step 1: all infected hosts must contain the suspect organism
Step 2: A pure culture of the suspect organism must be obtained
Step 3: A healthy organism infected with the pure culture must have the same symptoms as the original host
Step 4: the suspect organism must be isolated from the second host grown in pure culture and prove to be identical to the first culture
(symptoms of the disease are carefully identified and blood is examined)
Innate immunity
Provides the early line of defence against microbes. Consists of cellular and biochemical defence mechanisms that are in place even before infections and are ready to respond rapidly to infections
- physical (skin, mucous membrane)
- internal (inflammation, pahocytic cells, NK cells complement proteins)
skin
Skin continuously grows by new cells being produced from below. Closely packed cells to form a protective layer covered by dead cells (tough, dry
When unbroken, skin prevents the entry of pathogens. Pores in the skin secrete substances that kill bacteria
Mucous membrane
Cells lining the respiratory tract and openings of the urinary and reproductive systems that secrete a protective layer of mucus. Mucus is sticky and traps pathogens and other particles. When there are many pathogens more mucus is produced to flush them out.
Cilia
Hair – like projections from cells lining the air passages. Move with a wavelike motion to push pathogens from the lungs up to the through (sneeze, cough, swallowed)
Chemical barriers
Acid in the stomach; alkali in the small intestine; the enzyme lysozyme, in tears. Stomach acid destroys pathogens, including those that are carried to the throat by cilia and then swallowed. Alkali destroys acid resistant pathogens. Lysozyme destroys the cell membranes of bacteria.
Other body secretions
Secretions from sweat glands and oily secretions from glands in hair follicles
Contain chemicals that destroy bacteria and fungus
Tears flush out pathogen
Lysosome in tears kill pathogens, prevent from entering blood
Physical and chemical barriers
skin, mucous membrane, cilia, chemical barriers, other body secretions