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AQA GCSE Biology 9-1 > (Paper 1 Content Knowledge) 3.2 Disease: Communicable diseases > Flashcards

(Paper 1 Content Knowledge) 3.2 Disease: Communicable diseases Flashcards

1
Q

What is a pathogen?

A

A microorganism that causes disease.

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2
Q

Name the four main types of pathogens.

A

Viruses

Bacteria

Fungi

Protists

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3
Q

Give an example of a viral disease in animals and plants.

A

Animals: HIV (can lead to AIDS)

Plants: Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)

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4
Q

Give an example of a bacterial disease in animals and plants.

A

Animals: Salmonella

Plants: Agrobacterium

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5
Q

Give an example of a fungal disease in animals and plants.

A

Animals: Athlete’s foot

Plants: Rose black spot

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6
Q

Give an example of a protist disease in animals and plants.

A

Animals: Malaria

Plants: Downy mildew

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7
Q

What are the key stages in a pathogen’s life cycle?

A

Infect a host

Reproduce or replicate

Spread to new hosts

Infect others

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8
Q

What makes pathogens successful?

A

They have structural adaptations to help them spread and reproduce effectively.

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9
Q

What is a communicable disease?

A

A disease that can be transferred from one organism to another.

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10
Q

What is a non-communicable disease?

A

A disease that cannot be passed on, e.g. cancer, genetic disorders, or deficiency diseases.

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11
Q

Give an example of a genetic disorder.

A

Cystic fibrosis

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12
Q

What is a deficiency disease?

A

A disease caused by a lack of essential nutrients, e.g. scurvy (vitamin C deficiency)

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13
Q

Name five ways pathogens can be transmitted.

A

Direct contact (e.g. skin or sexual contact)

Water (e.g. dirty water – cholera)

Air (e.g. sneezing – cold virus)

Unhygienic food preparation (e.g. E. coli)

Vectors (e.g. mosquitoes, badgers)

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14
Q

What is a vector?

A

An organism that spreads disease, without being infected itself.

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15
Q

Are viruses considered living organisms? Why or why not?

A

No – they do not carry out all 7 life processes (e.g. respiration, excretion, growth).

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16
Q

What are viruses made of?

A

A short length of genetic material (DNA or RNA) inside a protein coat.

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17
Q

How do viruses reproduce?

A

By replicating inside host cells, then causing them to burst, releasing more viruses.

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18
Q

Can antibiotics treat viral infections?

A

No – antibiotics do not affect viruses.

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19
Q

What is the viral life cycle?

A

Infect host cell

Replicate DNA and protein coat

Assemble new virus particles

Host cell bursts, spreading infection

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20
Q

How long can the virus life cycle take?

A

As fast as 12 hours (e.g. Norovirus) or several days (e.g. Ebola)

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21
Q

What type of organisms does TMV infect?

A

Plants – especially tobacco, tomatoes, and peppers.

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22
Q

What does TMV do to the plant?

A

Infects chloroplasts

Causes a mosaic pattern on leaves

Reduces photosynthesis

Lowers crop yield

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23
Q

How is TMV spread?

A

By direct contact, including on hands of farmers.

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24
Q

Is there a cure for TMV?

A

No – control relies on prevention and limiting spread.

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25
What does HIV stand for?
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
26
How is HIV transmitted?
Through body fluids, often via unprotected sex, shared needles, or cuts.
27
What are the early symptoms of HIV?
Flu-like symptoms, which often pass unnoticed.
28
What is AIDS?
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome – when HIV damages the immune system over time.
29
Can HIV/AIDS be cured?
No, but antiviral drugs can slow the development of AIDS.
30
How is measles transmitted?
Through the air in tiny droplets when an infected person sneezes.
31
What are the symptoms of measles?
Fever and a skin rash
32
Why is measles dangerous for adults who weren’t infected as children?
It can lead to serious complications such as infertility.
33
How is measles controlled in many countries?
Through vaccination
34
Are all bacteria harmful?
No – many bacteria are useful, such as those in the intestines.
35
What type of cells are bacteria?
Prokaryotes – they do not have a nucleus.
36
Are bacteria larger or smaller than viruses?
Larger – but still microscopic.
37
What type of disease is gonorrhoea?
A sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by bacteria.
38
What are the symptoms of gonorrhoea?
Burning pain when urinating Thick yellow or green discharge from penis or vagina
39
What are complications if gonorrhoea is left untreated?
It can lead to infertility.
40
How can gonorrhoea be prevented?
Using barrier contraception (e.g. condoms) Abstaining from sexual activity
41
How is gonorrhoea treated?
With antibiotics, but resistance is becoming a problem.
42
What does Salmonella cause?
Food poisoning
43
What are the symptoms of Salmonella infection?
Abdominal cramps Vomiting Diarrhoea
44
How is Salmonella transmitted?
Undercooked food (e.g. meat, poultry, eggs) Unhygienic kitchens Improper reheating
45
How is the spread of Salmonella controlled in the UK?
Vaccination of poultry Cooking food thoroughly Hygienic preparation
46
What are protists?
Microorganisms with features of animals, plants, and fungi.
47
Are protists prokaryotic or eukaryotic?
Eukaryotic – they have a nucleus.
48
Do all protists cause disease?
No, but some do, such as the ones that cause malaria.
49
What causes malaria?
A Plasmodium protist, spread by mosquitoes.
50
What is a vector in disease transmission?
An organism (like a mosquito) that transmits a disease but doesn’t get ill from it.
51
Where is malaria commonly found?
In warm climates – Africa, Asia, Central and South America.
52
What are the symptoms of malaria?
Fever Sweats and chills Headaches Vomiting and diarrhoea Liver and blood damage
53
How is malaria prevented?
Using mosquito nets Wearing insect repellent Taking antimalarial drugs Vaccination (introduced in 2021)
54
How is malaria treated?
With antimalarial drugs, which treat symptoms and may help prevent infection.
55
Are all fungi harmful?
No – some are useful, like yeast, which is used in bread and beer production.
56
Are fungal cells prokaryotic or eukaryotic?
Eukaryotic – they have a nucleus.
57
Are all fungi single-celled?
No – some are multicellular, like mushrooms.
58
What causes athlete’s foot?
A fungus that grows on the skin, usually between the toes.
59
What are the symptoms of athlete’s foot?
Dry, red, flaky skin White, wet, cracked skin Usually between the toes
60
How is athlete’s foot transmitted?
By touching infected skin or contaminated surfaces, often in communal areas (e.g. swimming pools, gyms).
61
How is athlete’s foot treated?
With antifungal medication, often a topical cream or powder
62
What plant disease is caused by a fungus?
Rose black spot
63
What are the symptoms of rose black spot?
Purple or black spots on leaves Leaves turn yellow and fall off
64
How does rose black spot affect plant health?
Reduces photosynthesis and therefore growth.
65
How is rose black spot transmitted?
Through air, water, and direct contact (e.g. by gardeners).
66
How is rose black spot treated?
Fungicides Removing and destroying infected leaves
67
What is transmission in the context of disease?
The spread of pathogens from one individual or place to another.
68
Why is preventing transmission important?
It reduces the spread of communicable diseases.
69
How does sterilising water help prevent disease?
It kills pathogens in unclean water, e.g. prevents cholera.
70
How does hygiene in food preparation prevent disease?
Cooking thoroughly and clean handling kill pathogens, e.g. prevent Salmonella.
71
How does personal hygiene prevent the spread of disease?
Disinfecting surfaces Treating infections (e.g. athlete’s foot) Kills pathogens and stops transmission.
72
How do vaccinations prevent disease?
They introduce a weakened form of the pathogen, so the immune system learns how to defend the body (e.g. for measles).
73
How does contraception prevent disease?
Barrier methods (e.g. condoms) prevent the transfer of bodily fluids, reducing spread of STDs like HIV/AIDS.
74
What are non-specific defences?
General defences that prevent pathogens from entering the body. They are not targeted at specific pathogens.
75
What are the two types of non-specific defences?
Physical barriers and chemical barriers
76
How does the skin protect the body from pathogens?
It acts as a physical barrier, and forms a scab when cut to seal the wound.
77
What protects areas not covered by skin, like the eyes?
Tears, which contain enzymes (a chemical barrier)
78
How does the nose defend against infection?
Internal hairs trap large particles Mucus traps pathogens Blowing your nose removes them
79
What are ciliated cells and what do they do?
Cells with tiny hairs (cilia) that waft mucus and pathogens upward to the throat.
80
What do goblet cells do?
They produce mucus to trap pathogens in the airways.
81
What happens to mucus trapped in the trachea and bronchi?
It is swallowed and the pathogens are destroyed in the stomach.
82
What does stomach acid do?
It kills pathogens swallowed in mucus or ingested in food – a chemical barrier.
83
What is the immune system?
The second line of defence that fights infections once pathogens enter the body.
84
What are the two main types of white blood cells involved in the immune response?
Phagocytes and lymphocytes
85
What do phagocytes do?
They engulf and destroy pathogens.
86
How do phagocytes destroy pathogens?
They surround them with their membrane and use enzymes to break them down.
87
Are phagocytes specific or non-specific?
Non-specific – they attack any pathogen.
88
What do lymphocytes detect on pathogens?
Antigens – proteins on the surface of pathogens.
89
What do lymphocytes produce in response to antigens?
Antibodies, which are specific to the pathogen.
90
What do antibodies do?
They make pathogens clump together, making it easier for phagocytes to engulf them.
91
What are antitoxins?
Substances produced by lymphocytes to neutralise toxins released by pathogens.
92
Are lymphocytes specific or non-specific?
Specific – they target specific pathogens with matching antigens.

AQA GCSE Biology 9-1 (20 decks)

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