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biology > communicable diseases, prevention and the immune system > Flashcards

communicable diseases, prevention and the immune system Flashcards

4.1.1 (52 cards)

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1
Q

what are the 4 types of pathogens

A

bacteria
viruses
protoctists
fungi

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2
Q

how do bacteria work

A

they produce toxins that damage body cells

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3
Q

how do viruses work

A
  • non living and acellular
    they use host cells to replicate before bursting out and destroying cells
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4
Q

how do protoctists work

A

they take over cells and break them open

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5
Q

how do fungi work

A

digest living cells to destroy them. some can produce toxins

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6
Q

what is tuberculosis

A

-bacterium affecting cows, humans, pigs and badgers
-transmitted by airborne droplets and contaminated food + drink
-damages lungs and suppresses immune system
-treated by antibiotics and vaccinations

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7
Q

what is HIV/AIDS

A

virus affecting human + non human primates
-transmitted via exchange of bodily fluids and gradually destroys immune system

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8
Q

what is influenza

A

virus affecting mammals which is transmitted via airborne droplets and contaminated objects which kills ciliated epithelial cells in the gas exchange system

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9
Q

what is athletes foot

A

a fungus affecting humans cause cracking and scaling of the skin between toes, transmitted by contaminated objects

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10
Q

what is tobacco mosaic virus

A

a virus damaging leaves, flowers and fruit that affects plants like tobacco, tomatoes and pepper plants

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11
Q

what is malaria

A

protoctist transmitted by a vector affecting mammals, reptiles and birds
-damages red blood cells, liver and brain

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12
Q

what is potato blight

A

protoctists destroying leaves, tubers and fruit that affects potatoes and tomatoes

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13
Q

what is black sigatoka

A

fungus that attacks and destroys leaves turning them black and it affects banana plants

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14
Q

what is ring rot

A

a bacterium damaging leaves, tubers and fruit that affects potatoes, tomatoes and aubergines

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15
Q

how animal and plant communicable diseases are transmitted

A
  • vectors
  • spores
  • direct contact
  • climate, living conditions, social factors
  • indirect transmission
  • overcrowding
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16
Q

What is a bacteriophage

A

An example of a virus that infects bacteria

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17
Q

Physical barriers to infection

A

Skin consisting of keratin
Stomach acid HCl kills bacteria
Gut and skin flora are bacteria that compete with pathogens for food and space

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18
Q

What are the 5 non specific responses of the body to infection

A

1- inflammation
2- lysozyme action
3- interferon
4- phagocytosis
5- blood clotting

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19
Q

Describe the inflammation process

A

-mast cells release histamines causing vasodilation
-increased blood flow and leaky capillaries
-antibodies, WBcs and plasma leak out into infected tissue and destroy pathogen

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20
Q

Describe lysozyme action

A

it’s an enzyme found in secretions like tears and mucus killing bacterial cells by damaging their cell wall

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21
Q

Describe interferon

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A

It prevents viruses spreading to uninfected cells by stopping protein synthesis in them

22
Q

Describe phagocytosis

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A

WBC’s / phagocytes engulf pathogens via endocytosis into phagolysosome destroying them and binding with MHC to become an APC

23
Q

Describe blood clotting

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A

Platelets release thromboplastins that turn prothrombins into thrombin w/ Ca2+, catalysing reaction of fibrinogen turning into fibrin causing a mesh wound

24
Q

Physical defences of plants

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A

-callose deposited between cell wall and cell plasma membrane preventing pathogens entering
-waxy cuticle and old vascular tissue also prevent entry of pathogens

25
Mechanical defence of plants
-necrosis kills cells near infection w/ intercellular enzymes
26
Chemical defences in plants
- terpenoids like menthol(mint) - phenols interfere with digestion - alkaloids like caffeine and morphine are bitter repelling herbivores - defensins inhibit transport channels - hydrolytic enzymes eg chitinases break down the cell wall of a pathogen
27
what is the role of cytokines
cell signalling molecule activating immune cells
28
what is the role of opsonins
bind to pathogens making them more easily recognisable and digestible for phagocytosis (opsonisation)
29
what is the role of phagosomes and lysosomes
pathogens are engulfed forming a phagosome, fusing with lysosomes to become a phagolysosome and then digests the pathogen
30
what is the primary immune response
the body's initial reaction to a foreign pathogen during a first time infection/vaccination. memory T and B cells are produced that remember the antigen and are stored
31
what is the secondary immune response
rapid and strong immune response on the second exposure to an antigen, memory t and b cells proliferate and differentiate
32
describe the structure of an immunoglobulin
- Y shaped - 2 heavy, 2 light polypeptide chains - disulphide bonds between chains - 2 antigen binding sites ( variable region) and a constant region below - flexible hinge region to adapt to shape of antigen
33
outline the role of agglutinins
substances (usually antibodies) that cause particles like RBC's, WBC's or pathogens to clump together, neutralising the pathogens and making them easier to engulf in phagocytosis
34
outline the role of anti-toxins
- neutralise toxins produced by pathogens preventing harmful effects to the human body - antibodies that bind to pathogens, inactivating them and rendering them harmless
35
what is active immunity
immunity formed by the body's own immune system after exposure to a pathogen and the production of antibodies and long term immunity
36
what is passive immunity
temporary short lived immunity formed from being given someone else's antibodies rather than producing them yourself
37
what is natural immunity
when your body immune system produces antibodies and fights off an infection
38
what is artificial immunity
deliberate acquisition of immunity by injection of pathogens or antibodies
39
give an example of natural active immunity
recovering from an illness
40
give an example of natural passive immunity
a newborn baby receiving antibodies through a mothers breast milk
41
give an example of artificial active immunity
MMR vaccine, being introduced to a weak/dead pathogen
42
give an example of artificial passive immunity
receiving an injection of someones antibodies
43
what is an autoimmune disease and give an example
when the bodys immune system mistakes its own cells as foreign and attacks them - eg arthritis + multiple sclerosis
44
explain the principle of vaccines
- suspension of antigens into the body to produce artificial active immunity (live attenuated or inactivated) - administered by injection or orally - produce long term immunity and memory cells - prevent epidemics if a country is vaccinated and a disease travels in
45
what is a routine vaccination
vaccinations at different stages of life to protect against a specific disease
46
criteria for a successful vaccination programme
- availability - minimal side effects - administration - herd immunity
47
what is herd immunity
indirect protection of a disease from the majority of a population being vaccinated and preventing spread
48
why do vaccines change
- pathogens evolving and changing shape of antigen - changes in vaccine technology - global health goals, eradicating disease and herd immunity
49
what are some sources of medicines
- microorganisms like bacteria and plants which are natural sources so we need to preserve biodiversity - eg penicillin from old - there's a potential to create personalised medicines eg genomics and knowledge is lost if microorganisms go extinct
50
benefits of using antibiotics
they are powerful life saving medicines that treat bacterial infections, eg strep throat
51
limitations of using antibiotics
- only for bacterial infections - side effects - antibiotic resistance eg wide use in 20th century after penicillin discovery
52
what is antibiotic resistance, how is it formed and why is it bad
- when bacteria mutate and become resistant to antibiotics - forms due to excessive prescription, not finishing course etc - bad because treatment becomes ineffective and more expensive ones have to be used, and mortality rates increase

biology (15 decks)

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