B3 - Infection And Response Flashcards
(20 cards)
What are pathogens?
Microorganisms that cause infectious disease.
Name the four main types of pathogens.
Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protists.
How do bacteria make us feel ill?
They produce toxins that damage cells and tissues.
How do viruses cause disease?
They reproduce inside cells, causing cell damage when they burst out.
Name three ways pathogens can be spread.
Through the air, direct contact, and water.
Give an example of a bacterial disease and its symptoms.
Salmonella causes fever, stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
Give an example of a virus disease and its symptoms.
Measles causes fever and a red skin rash.
How is HIV transmitted and what does it do to the body?
Through bodily fluids; it attacks the immune system, leading to AIDS if untreated.
Give an example of a fungal disease in humans.
Athlete’s foot, which causes itching and flaky skin.
How does the skin protect the body from pathogens?
It acts as a physical barrier and produces antimicrobial secretions.
How do the trachea and bronchi protect against pathogens?
They produce mucus to trap pathogens and have cilia to move it out of the lungs.
How does the immune system respond to pathogens?
White blood cells engulf pathogens, produce antibodies, and produce antitoxins.
What is an antigen?
A protein on the surface of a pathogen that triggers an immune response.
What is vaccination?
Injecting small amounts of dead or inactive pathogens to stimulate antibody production.
How do antibiotics work?
They kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria without harming body cells.
Why can’t antibiotics treat virus infections?
Viruses reproduce inside cells, so it’s hard to kill them without damaging body tissue.
What is antibiotic resistance and how is it caused?
When bacteria mutate and survive antibiotics, often due to overuse or incorrect use of antibiotics.
Where do drugs traditionally come from?
Plants and microorganisms, e.g., penicillin from mould.
What are the stages of drug development?
Preclinical testing on cells and animals, then clinical trials on human volunteers.
Why are double blind trials used in drug testing?
To prevent bias; neither the doctor nor patient knows who receives the real drug or placebo.
