Detecting pathogens Flashcards
(15 cards)
Is cytokine only released by white blood cells?
No, it can be released by damaged cells as well
What is a pathogen product?
Antigens - ( non self markers)
Do complement proteins play a role in inducing a fever?
Yes - complement proteins are like the non-specific version of antibodies
What is a bacterial pathogen?
Unicellular prokaryotes that can infect almost any part of the body. Bacteria can cause disease through the production of toxins and enzymes which either affect the functioning of cells or cause their death.
How do bacteria reproduce?
Bacteria typically reproduce asexually via binary fission.
What are fungi?
Eukaryotic organisms that include yeasts and moulds and contain long, branching filaments called hyphae.
How do fungi reproduce?
Fungi reproduce both through aesexual reproduction and sexual reproduction via spore formation.
What are worms?
Multicellular invertebrate parasites whose development include egg, larval, and adult stages. Can vary in length, with the longest worms being over 55 m in length.
How do worms reproduce?
Worms reproduce sexually via a complex life cycle.
What is a protozoa?
Single-celled eukaryotes that can be free-living or parasitic. Protozoa have many different mechanisms of action – for example, some can inhibit nucleic acid synthesis, protein synthesis, and various stages of cellular respiration.
How do protozoa’s reproduce?
Protozoa reproduce both through asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction.
What is a virus?
An infectious agent composed of genetic material (DNA or RNA) inside a protein coat (capsid). In some instances the protein coat is surrounded by a lipid envelope. Viruses are not able to independently reproduce, instead they insert their genetic material into a host’s cell and use the cell to replicate.
Viruses can cause disease through the lysis of cells during viral replication, the formation of cancer by affecting gene expression, and the over-stimulation of the immune system leading to organ damage.
How do viruses reproduce?
Viruses are not able to independently reproduce. Instead, they insert their genetic material into a host’s cell and use the cell’s machinery to replicate.
What is a prion?
Abnormally folded proteins that have the ability to induce normal proteins nearby to become misfolded. They only occur in mammals and affect only the brain and other neural structures. They are currently the only known infectious agents that don’t contain nucleic acids.
How do prions reproduce?
Prions do not reproduce in the normal sense of the word - instead, they induce misfolding in nearby proteins, thereby ‘spreading’ throughout a tissue
