Exam 1 Flashcards
Ch. 1-2, 4, 6-9 (137 cards)
Characteristics of microbes
microscopic (usually)
single-celled (usually)
most are beneficial (i.e. gut, skin, probiotics such as yogurt & cheese) & essential
5 types of microbes
- bacteria
- viruses (subcellular)
- protozoa
- fungi
- algae (unicellular)
prions
- 6th type of microbe
- Acellular
- no DNA or RNA genome
- infectious protein particles
- submicroscopic
- reproduction: infectious prion physically interacts with normal protein & converts it to infectious form
- examples: mad cow disease, scrapie (can only detect prion disease via autopsy)
“The time has come to close the book on infectious diseases. We have basically wiped out infection in the United States.” - Surgeon General in 1967. Why did he say this? Why was he wrong? what is the challenge?
1940s: Penicillin, other bacterial vaccines, and pesticides
1960s: more chronic diseases started to appear (i.e. obesity, lung cancer)
The challenge: In the past three decades, 40 previously unknown infectious diseases have emerged or reemerged (present day number is higher)
Five leading causes of death
- cardiovascular disease
- INFECTIOUS DISEASE
- cancer
- liver & kidney disease
- diabetes
6 factors responsible for emerging infections
- world population growth
- urbanization
- ecological disturbances
- technological advances
- microbial evolution & adaptation
- human behavior & attitudes
how much of the human population lives in less developed countries? (world population growth)
80%
what will the population be by 2050? (world population growth)
over 9 billion
Thomas Malthus
late 1700s to early 1800s
preacher who warned 200 years ago that unchecked population growth would lead to famine; THE LARGEST PROBLEM WITH POPULATION GROWTH IS INCREASED TRANSMISSION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
why does Tokyo, Japan have a reduced level of infectious disease despite high population density? (world population growth)
serious public health control
3 types of transmission (facilitated by overpopulation)
- person-to-person
- biological vector (mosquito, tick, fly to human) by taking in bacteria & releasing it to the next host (mosquitoes) or by feces on food (flies)
- zoonotic (animal to human) - i.e. rabies, consumption, swine flu
effect urbanization has on emerging infections
more of the world’s population is becoming concentrated in cities
poverty => less sanitation & hygiene, safe drinking water, public health infrastructure
what place is home to 68% of the worl’d people living with HIV?
Sub-Saharan Africa
what kind of ecological disturbances are responsible for increase in infectious diseases?
DEFORESTATION (i.e. Limes disease)
CLIMACTIC CHANGE (i.e. malaria, dengue)
NATURAL DISASTERS
- floods in Southern Africa => more mosquitoes carrying malaria & increase in cholera bc lack of safe drinking water
- drought in Eastern Africa => famine & malnutrition weaken immune system)
what kind of technological advances are responsible for increase in infectious diseases?
- travel means arriving at destination before showing symptoms
- NOSOCOMIAL INFECTION (from blood products, organ transplants, invasive medical procedures, immunosuppressive therapy or disease)
how does microbial evolution and adaptation play a role in increasing infectious disease?
- resistance to antibiotics & antimicrobials due to adaptation & selection that is accelerated by misuse:
1) overprescription
2) failure to complete drug regimen
what kind of human behaviors/attitudes contribute to increasing infectious disease?
- COMPLACENCY (false assumption that prevention & control are unnecessary; examples include threatened resurgence of AIDS & decreased immunizations)
- HUMAN MIGRATION (Internally Displaced Persons lack water, shelter, food, & hygiene; Refugees transmit disease in refugee camps)
- SOCIETAL FACTORS (increased day care use, increased population of elderly, globalization & centralization of food supply, increased tattooing & body piercings)
cell first coined by who & when?
Robert Hooke (monk) in 1665
what is the cell theory and who were the three people behind it?
- the cell is the fundamental unit of all organisms
- all organisms are unicellular or multicellular
- all cells are fundamentally alike in structure and metabolism
what makes a microbe?
1) size
2) metabolic diversity - cells obtain energy from metabolism (heterotrophs vs autotrophs)
3) requirement for oxygen
4) prokaryote vs eukaryote
heterotrophs
- metabolize complex ORGANIC molecules (food) as a source of energy & carbon
- depend on autotrophs for organic molecules
autotrophs
- use INORGANIC carbon as an energy source (CO2)
- two types: 1) photosynthetic 2) chemosynthetic
photosynthetic autotrophs
obtain energy directly from sun; produce oxygen
chemosynthetic autotrophs
obtain energy from inorganic compounds