B3- INFECTION AND RESPONSE Flashcards
(55 cards)
What are pathogens?
Pathogens are microorganisms that cause infectious (communicable) diseases. They can infect plants or animals
How can pathogens spread?
- direct contact
- water or air
- vectors ( organisms that carry and pass on the pathogen without getting the disease
How can the spread of infectious diseases be reduced?
- simple hygiene measures ( washing hands etc)
- destroying vectors
- isolating infected individuals, so they cannot pass the pathogen on
- giving people at risk a vaccination
How do viruses cause damage to cells?
Viruses reproduce rapidly in body cells, causing damage to the cells
Key information about measles:
- the symptoms are fever and a red skin rash
- the measles virus is spread by breathing in droplets from sneezes and coughs
- most people recover well from measles, however it can be fatal if there are complications, so most young children are vaccinated against measles
What does HIV stand for?
Human immunodeficiency virus
Key information about HIV:
- causes AIDS
- spread by sexual contact or exchange of bodily fluids (can be transmitted in blood when drug users share needles)
- at first, HIV causes a flu-like illness
- if untreated, the virus enters the lymph nodes and attacks the body’’s immune system
- taking antiviral drugs can delay this happening
- late stage HIV, or AIDS, is when the body’s immune system cannot fight off other infections or cancers
What can bacteria do to cells and tissues?
Bacteria may damage cells directly or produce toxins (poisons) that damage tissues
Key information about Salmonella:
- Salmonella is a type of food poisoning caused by bacteria
- The bacteria are ingested in food, which may not have been cooked properly or may not have been prepared in hygienic conditions
- the bacteria secretes toxins, which cause fever, abdominal cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea
- chicken and eggs can contain the bacteria, so chickens in the UK are vaccinated against Salmonella to control the spread
Key information about Gonorrhoea:
- it is an STD caused by bacteria, which is spread by sexual contact
- the symptoms are a thick, yellow or green discharge from the vagina or penis and pain when urinating
- used to be easily treated by penicillin, but many resistant strains have now appeared
- the use of a barrier method of contraception can stop the bacteria being passed on
What are protists?
Protists are single-celled organisms
What is the difference between protists and bacteria?
Protists are eukaryotic cells and bacteria are prokaryotic cells
Key information about malaria:
- caused by a protist
- the protist uses a particular type of mosquito as a vector
- passed on to a person when they are bitten by the mosquito
- causes severe fever, which reoccurs and can be fatal
- one of the main ways to stop the spread is to stop people being bitten (killing the mosquitos or using mosquito nets)
Key information about the Rose black spot:
-it is a fungal disease
- spread when spores are carried from plant to plant by water or wind
- purple or black spots develop on leaves, which often turn yellow and drop early
- the loss of leaves will stunt the growth of the plant because photosynthesis is reduced
- can be treated using fungicides and removing and destroying the affected leaves
What are non-specific defences?
They are defences that work against all pathogens, to try and stop them entering the body
What do tears do?
Enzymes in tears destroy microorganisms
What does the cilia do?
Cilia create a wave motion, which sweeps mucus along
What do the glands in the stomach wall do?
Glands produce hydrochloric acid, which kills bacteria in food
What does the nose do?
The nose traps particles that may contain pathogens
What do the sebaceous glands do?
Sebaceous gland produces sebum, which kills bacteria and fungi
What happens when a pathogen enters the body?
The immune system tries to destroy it.
How do white blood cells help to defend against pathogens?
- phagocytosis, which involves the pathogen being surrounded, engulfed and digested
- the production of special protein molecules called antibodies, which attach to the antigen molecules on the pathogen
- the production of antitoxins, which are chemicals that neutralise the poisonous effects of the toxins
How does the body become immune to a pathogen?
If the same pathogen re-enters the body, the white blood cells respond more quickly to produce the correct antibodies. This quick response prevents the person from getting ill and is called immunity
What do vaccinations do?
- When a person has a vaccination, small quantities of dead or inactive forms of a pathogen are injected into the body.
- Vaccination stimulates the white blood cells to produce antibodies and to develop immunity