Communicable Diseases Flashcards
Infection and Response (22 cards)
What are pathogens?
Microorganisms that enter the body and cause disease
What types of diseases do pathogens cause?
Communicable (infectious) diseases
Can both plants and animals be infected by pathogens?
Yes
How small are bacteria compared to body cells?
About 1/100th the size of your body cells
How do bacteria make you feel ill?
By producing toxins that damage your cells and tissues
Are viruses considered cells?
No, they are much smaller and not cells
How do viruses replicate inside the body?
They use the host cells’ machinery to produce many copies of themselves
What happens to the host cell after a virus replicates?
The cell usually bursts, releasing all the new viruses
What are protists?
Single-celled eukaryotes
What are some protists known to be?
Parasites that live on or inside other organisms
How are parasites often transferred to their hosts?
By a vector that doesn’t get the disease itself
What are fungi made of?
Hyphae (thread-like structures)
How can fungi cause diseases?
By growing and penetrating human skin and the surfaces of plants
What can hyphae produce that spreads to other organisms?
Spores
How can pathogens be spread through water?
By drinking or bathing in contaminated water
Give an example of a bacterial infection spread by water.
Cholera
How can pathogens be spread through the air?
Carried in droplets produced when you cough or sneeze
Give an example of an airborne pathogen.
Influenza virus
What is direct contact in the context of pathogen transmission?
Picking up pathogens by touching contaminated surfaces
Give an example of a fungal infection spread by direct contact.
Athlete’s foot
Fill in the blank: Some pathogens can be picked up by drinking or bathing in _______.
dirty water
Fill in the blank: Some pathogens are transferred by a _______ that does not get the disease itself.
vector
