Pathogens Flashcards
(16 cards)
What are micro-organisms?
Micro-organisms, or microbes, are very small living creatures that cannot be seen without a microscope.
What are the 5 main types of micro-organisms?
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Fungi
- Protozoa
- Algae
Do all micro-organisms cause disease?
No, only a small number of micro-organisms cause disease; some are vital to our survival.
What role do microbes play in maintaining life on earth?
They fix gases and break down dead plant and animal matter into simpler substances used at the beginning of the food chain.
How do microbes contribute to human health?
They are essential to gut health and outnumber human cells by 10 to 1.
What is a pathogen?
A pathogen is a micro-organism that has the potential to cause disease.
What defines a disease?
Any medical condition with specific symptoms is called a disease, and it is present only when symptoms appear.
What is an infection?
An infection is the invasion and multiplication of pathogenic microbes in an individual or population.
What is the average size of bacteria?
Bacteria are usually about 1µm across.
Do bacteria have a nucleus?
No, none of the bacterial cells have a nucleus.
How are viruses different from bacteria?
Viruses are much smaller, not made of cells, and reproduce by invading a host cell.
Are viruses considered living organisms?
No, viruses are considered non-living as they cannot replicate unless they infect a host cell.
What are the structures of fungi?
Some fungi, like yeast, are small and round, while others, like mould, are made of long threads called hyphae.
What is an outbreak?
A sudden increase in cases of an infectious disease in a particular place.
What is an epidemic?
An epidemic is an outbreak that moves into a large geographic area.
What is a pandemic?
A pandemic is an epidemic of an infectious disease that has spread across multiple continents or worldwide.
