Communicable disease

Question 1

What are pathogens ?

Answer 1

They are microorganisms that enter the body and cause diseases.

They cause communicable disease - diseases that easily spread

Both plants and animals can be infected by pathogens

Question 2

What are bacteria ?

Answer 2

They are very small cells which can reproduce rapidly inside your body

They can make you ill by producing toxins which damages your cells and tissues.

Question 3

What are viruses ?

Answer 3

Viruses are not cells. They’re tiny about 1/100th the size of a bacterium.
Like bacteria, they can reproduce rapidly inside your body.

They live inside your cells and can replicate themselves by using the cells machinery to produce many copies of themselves. The cell then usually bursts, releasing all the new viruses.

This cell damage is what makes you feel ill.

Question 4

What are protist ?

Answer 4

Lots of diff types but all protist are eukaryotes and most of them are single celled.

Some protist are parasites. Parasites live on or inside other organisms and can cause them damage. They are often transferred to the organism by a vector, which doesn’t get the disease itself e.g. an insect that carries the protist

Question 5

What are Fungi ?

Answer 5

Some fungi are single celled. Other have a body which is made up of hyphae

These hyphae can grow and penetrate human skin and the surface of plants, causing diseases.

The hyphae can produce spores, which can spread to other plants and animals.

Question 6

Way pathogen spreads

Answer 6

1) Water - some pathogens can be picked up by drinking or bathing in dirty water E.g. cholera is a bacterial infection that spreads by drinking water contaminated with the diarrhoea of other sufferers

2) Air - pathogens can be carried in air then breathed in. Some airborne pathogens are carried in air in droplets produced when you cough or sneeze e.g. influenza virus causes flu to spread in this way

3) Direct contact - Some pathogens picked up by touching contaminated surfaces E.g. athletes foot is a fungus which makes skin itch and flack off. Its commonly spread by touching the same things as an infected person e.g. shower floors