Infection and response Flashcards
What is a pathogen?
A microorganism that causes infectious disease
What are the four types of pathogens?
Viruses, bacteria, protists or fungi
How can pathogens be spread?
Direct contact, water or air
How do bacterial infections make us feel ill?
Production of toxins that damage tissues
How do viral infections make us ill?
They live and reproduce inside of cells, causing cell damage
What are three examples of a virus?
Measles - animals
HIV - animals
Tobacco mosaic virus - plants
What are some examples of bacterial diseases?
Salmonella and gonorrhoea
What fungal disease affects plants?
Rose black spot, which causes leaves to turn yellow and drop early, reducing the rate of photosynthesis
What is an example of a protist disease?
Malaria, spread through mosquitos, and causing fever and potentially death
What are the non-specific human defence systems that protect us against disease?
Skin, nose, trachea and bronchi and the stomach
How does the immune system fight off a disease?
The immune system makes antibodies and uses them to specifically fight certain germs that the body has previously come into contact with
How do white blood cells fight against pathogens?
Antibody production and antitoxin production
How does vaccination work?
It introduces small quantities of dead or inactive pathogens into the body to stimulate antibody production. If the same pathogen ever enters the body again, the white blood cells can quickly produce the correct antibodies
What is one of the most well known antibiotics?
Penicillin
What plant does digitalis come from?
Foxgloves
