infection and response Flashcards
what are pathogens
microorganisms that can cause communicable diseases that effects plants and animals
how do pathogens spread and what type of diseases correlate with this
air - tiny droplets through air causing things like covid/ flu
contaminating food + water - causing things like salmonella and cholera
direct contact - walking barefoot on public surfaces such as athletes foot
what is a vector
organisms which carry pathogens
what are the four types of microorganisms
bacteria, virus, protist, fungi
how can diseases be prevented
- being hygienic such as washing hands or cleaning chopping boards
- kill the vectors
- vaccinations
- isolate/ quarantine the person who has the dieses
what are virus diseases
- very small
- can’t reproduce by themself yet when they enter another organisms cell they use it to replicate themselves. The cell eventually bursts and the virus spreads to other cells to go an invade.
what are the three types of viral diseases
- measles
- HIV
- tobacco mosaic virus
how are measles spread, what are the symptoms, how can it be treated
- spread by air, when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
- red rash over body, fever symptoms.
- can be fatal yet most people are vaccinated
how is HIV spread, what are the symptoms, how can it be treated
- sexual contract or exchange of bodily fluids
- fever, tiredness which the person then gets over and feel better. the virus still spreads inside body and leads to unusual infections or cancer (aids).
- this used to be untreatable yet now a new drug ( antiretroviral) has been developed
what is tobacco mosaic virus, what does it effect, what are the symptoms, what does it do, how can it be treated
- effects tomato plants and tobacco plants
- discolours patches on leaves which effects photosynthesis meaning the plant cannot produce sugars for growth .
- cannot be treated but removing infected plants so it cannot spread is a good alternative
what are bacterial diseases
single celled organisms that reproduce by themselves
what are the bacterial diseases
salmonella, gonorrhoea
what is salmonella, what are the symptoms, treated?
- a type of food poisoning
- stomach cramps, fever, …, diarrhoea
- passes by itself after a week, stay hydrated
what is gonorrhoea, what are the symptoms, treatments, preventions
- sexually transmitted disease - sexual contact
- pain when urinating, thick yellow/green discharge
- preventions - avoid unsafe sex use preventions
- treatment - used to use penicillin but it is becoming more resistant so having to use more expensive rarer antibiotics
what is fungal disease, what are the symptoms, effect, treatments, how is it spread
- rose black spot
- causes black spots, turn the leaves yellow and they will drop off.
- reduces photosynthesis and stops growth
- spread by water and wind
- chopping of infected leaves or spraying with fungicide
what is the protist disease, what are the symptoms, effect, treatments, how is it spread
- malaria
- transported by vector (mosquito) when mosquito sucks blood from one animal that is already infected, it takes blood and the parasite from the animal taking it to the other host infecting them
- headaches, fevers
- vaccinations, stop vectors first, mosquito repellent
what is a defence system and what are the two types
works to prevent pathogens from entering the body
- physical and chemical
- immune system
what are the different type of physical and chemical barriers and how do they help
skin - kills pathogens before they even enter the body
nose - lots of hair and mucus meaning it traps most pathogens
trachea - mucus meaning it traps pathogens
cilia - move pathogen filled mucus into the stomach - full of high acid hydrochloric acid which helps kills the pathogens
what is an immune system defence
when the pathogens get passed the physical and chemical defences, body’s immune system needs to step in
how do white blood cells help get rid of pathogens
phagocytosis - the process of engulfing pathogens to kill them
antitoxins - they neutralise the toxins released by the pathogens by binding to them
antibodies - act as a signal for white blood cells to destroy antigens
what are antibodies
each antigen has an antigen on their surface which has a complementary antibody it binds to. once antibodies bind to the pathogen it makes it easier for white blood cells to find them
how do antibodies help if you get the same disease again
the specific complementary antibody will be able to produce antibodies faster. the individual then won’t feel the symptoms of the disease and therefore become immune to the disease
what do vaccinations do
allow you to become immune to a pathogen without actually catching the disease
how do vaccinations work
- a vaccine contains weakened or deactivated pathogens. these won’t cause diseases
- because they are still the same antigens, our body still produces antibodies and therefore create immunity
