1.8 Changing Pathogens

Question 1

How can diseases spread quickly when involving changed pathogens?

Answer 1

Very few people are immune to the mutated pathogens

Question 2

What is a country wide disease called?

Answer 2

Epidemic

Question 3

What is a world wide disease called?

Answer 3

Pandemic

Question 4

Why do some pathogens spread rapidly?

Answer 4

They are mutated

Question 5

How have some bacteria developed resistance?

Answer 5

Developed resistance against antibodies by natural selection

Question 6

What is the MRSA bacteria?

Answer 6

A superbug bacterium that has evolved through natural selection

Question 7

What is MRSA resistant to?

Answer 7

The common antibiotic

Question 8

Explain the process of non resistant pathogen mutations going through natural selection.

Answer 8

1. Mutations of pathogens produce resistant strains
2. Antibiotics kill the non resistant pathogens
3. The resistant bacteria survive and reproduce and a whole population of resistant strain develops.

Question 9

Why shouldn’t antibiotics be used for mild infections?

Answer 9

Taking antibiotics for mild infections causes the rate of resistant bacteria to speed up

Question 10

How could a pathogen change and what is its consequence?

Answer 10

Change by mutation to cause the new strain to spread rapidly