4.1 communicable diseases Flashcards
what is callose?
a large polysaccharide with beta 1-3 and 1-6 linkages between glucose molecules
How does callose defend against pathogens in plants?
it is deposited into sieve tubes at the end of the growing season so pathogens cant enter. Extra callose is deposited between the cell wall and membrane when the plant is stretched
what are some passive chemical plant defences?
- phytoanticipins
- toxins
- enzyme inhibitors
- receptor molecules
- sticky resins
- repenes
- tannins
- tylose
what are some active chemical plant defences?
- phytoalexins
- signal molecules
- oxidative bursts
- DAPHT chemical
what are phytoalexins?
- chemicals produced in response to the pathogen
how do phytoalexins defend against pathogens?
- disrupt the cell surface membrane of bacteria
- disrupt the pathogens metabolism
- delay pathogen reproduction.
- stimulate the production of chitinases
what are examples of signal molecules?
- ethylene
- salicylic acid
how to signal molecules defend plants against pathogens?
they travel through the plant to activate defenses in uninfected areas
what are defensins?
small cysteine rich proteins with broad microbial action
how do defensins defend plants against pathogens?
they act on molecules in the plasma membrane of pathogens
why do plants need defenses against pathogens?
they dont have an immune system so they have structural, chemical and physical defences against pathogens
what are some passive physical plant defences?
- waxy cuticle
- cellulose cell walls
- casparian strip
- stomata
what are phenols?
antibiotic/antifungal chemicals
how do tannins defend plants against pathogens?
they bind to the salivary proteins andd digestive enzymes in insects to deactivate them. This means insects die from ingesting too many tannins
what are some active physical plant defences?
- lignin
- extra cellulose
- necrosis
- canker
- callose
what is necrosis?
cell suicide
sacrificing a few cells could save the rest of the plant
what is a canker?
the death of cambium tissue in bark
what are examples of fungal diseases?
- athletes foot
- black sigatoka
- ringworm
what are examples of bacterial diseases?
- meningitis
- tuberculosis
what are examples of viral dieases?
- HIV
- influenza
- tobacco mosaic virus
what are examples of protoctistan diseases?
- late tomato/potato blight
- malaria
what are the characteristics of ring rot?
- ring of decay in the vascular tissue of tomatoes or potato tubers
- leaf wilting
what characteristics of HIV/AIDS?
- flu-like symptoms
- compromised immune system
what are the characteristics of influenza?
flu
- muscle pains
- headache
- fever
what are the characteristics of tobacco mosaic virus?
mottling and leaf discolouration
what are the characteristics of black sigatoka?
black leaf spots on banana plants
what are the characteristics of blight?
affects the leaves and potato tubers
what are the characteristics of ringworm?
growth of fungus in the skin, causing a rash in cattle and humans
what are the charcateristics of athletes foot?
growth under the skin of the foot and toes
cracking, red skin
what are the characterisitcs of malaria?
parasite in blood causing headaches and fever, sometimes death or a coma
what are the characteristics of tb?
killing of the cells and tissues, frequently the lungs
what is indirect transmission?
passing a pathogen from host to a new host via an intermediate
what are spores?
a unit of asexual reproduction adapted to spending time in unfavourable conditions before developing into offspring
what are examples of intermediates?
- fomites
- vectors
- droplets
- soil contamination
what are fomites?
inanimate objects that transmit disease
e.g.
- bedding
- socks
- cosmetics
what are vectors?
animals or objects that transmit disease without being infected themselves
e.g.
- mosquitoes
- dogs
- water
what are examples of indirect transmission in plants?
- wind
- water
- animals
- humans
how do living conditions affect transmission?
overcrowed living or work conditions may increase the rate of transmission
what social factors affect transmission?
- poor healthcare
- poor nutrition
- homelessness
- poor disposal of waste
- culture
- infrastructure
- socio-economic
how does climate affect transmission?
- pathogens spread faster in warmer, damp conditions
- increased rain and wind increases spread
what are contributing factors to the transmission of diease?
- human demographics + behaviour
- economic development + land use
- microbial adaptation + change
- climate change
- international travel
- breakdown of public health measures
what are protoctista?
a group of eukaryotic organisms with a wide variety of feeding methods. They require a vector to transfer to their host
what are fungi?
eukaryotic organisms with a structure similar to plant cells
where is fungi found in plants?
the vascular system
the hyphae release extracellular enzymes to digest the surrounding tissues causing decay
where is fungi found in animals?
found in the skin
the fungus sends out reproductive hyphae that grow to the surface and release spores, causing redness and irritation
what is a parasite?
an organism that lives on or inside another organism
what is direct transmission?
passing a pathogen from a host to a new host with no intermediary
what are 2 modes of action for pathogens?
DIRECT- damage to the tissues
INDIRECT- producing toxins that damage host tissues
how can direct transmission be reduced?
- basic hygiene
- keeping surfaces clean
- using condoms
- waste water treatment
- using a tissue
- using a mask
- wash skin after touching soil
- washing fresh food
what are examples of direct transmission?
- physical contact
- faecal-oral transmission
- droplet infection
- transmission by spores
describe the virus cycle
- virus invades cells and takes over genetic machinery
- the host cell manufactures more copies of the virus
- host cell bursts, releasing more viruses that will infect neighbouring cells
what are viruses?
- nonliving infectious agents
- 0.02-0.3 micrometers
how can bacteria be classified?
- by their basic shape
e.g rod shaped= bacilli - by their cell walls
gram positive bacteria
gram negative bacteria
how do bacteria cause disease?
- damaging host cells
- releasing waste products/toxins
what are bacteria?
prokaryotic organisms that are smaller than eukaryotic cells, they can reproduce rapidly
what is a pathogen?
a microorganism that causes disease
what is disease?
abnormal conditions that affect an organisms body, organs, tissues, or cells
what is inflammation?
the swelling and redness of tissues caused by infection
what is a mucous membrane?
specialised epithelial tissue that is covered by mucus
what are primary defences?
defences that prevent the pathogen from entering the body
what are examples of primary defences in animals?
- skin
- blood clotting
- skin repair
- mucous membranes
- coughing
- sneezing
- inflammation
what are specific defences?
- ACQUIRED IMMUNITY
- responses to a particular pathogen, the immune system has a built up defence
what are some features of specific defences?
- antigen-dependant
- antigen specific
- exposure results in immunological memory
- lag time between exposure and maximum response
what are non-specific defences?
- INNATE IMMUNITY
- present from birth, cant distinguish between specific pathogens
what are some features of non-specific defences?
- antigen-independant
- immediate max response
- not antigen specific
- no immunological memmory
what are the 4 main ways animals defend themselves against infectious diseases?
- physical
- cellular
- chemical
- commensal organisms
what are physical defences?
where body tissue acts as a barrier
what are cellular defences?
cells can detect the pathogen and produce a substance in response
what are chemical defences?
substances secreted by the body to provide an unsuitable environment for the pathogen
what are commensal organism defences?
there are harmless bacteria and fungi living on/inside the body, which compete with pathogens
what are the 3 lines of defence?
1- physical+chemical barriers
2- response against pathogens that have past the 1st line of defence
3- specific response against specific pathogens
what are examples of the 1st line of defence?
- the skin
- mucous membranes
- blood clotting
- inflammation
- wound repar
- expulsive reflexes
what are examples of the 2nd line of defence?
- phagocytes
- neutrophils
- macrophages
- antigen-presenting cells
what are examples of the 3rd line of defence?
T cells
B cells
what are primary defences?
the defences that prevent pathogens entering the body
what are 6 examples of primary defences?
- skin
- mucous membranes
- blood clotting
- inflammation
- wound repair
- expulsive reflexes
how does the skin act as a chemical barrier?
it produces antimicrobial chemicals
- fatty acids
- lysozyme
how do fatty acids defend against pathogens?
they lower the skin pH to inhibit patjogen growth
how do lysozymes defend against pathogens?
they are enzymes that break down the carbohydrates in the cell walls of some bacteria
how does the skin act as a physical barrier?
it prevents pathogens fromentering the body
what is the skin epidermis made from?
keratinocytes
how long does keratinisation take?
about 30 days
what is keratinisation?
- keratinocytes are made by mitosis at the base of the epidermis
- the keratinocytes move of the epidermis, as they do this the cytoplasm dries out and is replaced by keratin
- by the time the cells reach the outer epidermis they are dead
where are mucous membranes found?
- at body openings exposed to the external environment
e.g. - eyes
- mouth
- nostrils
- ears
- genitals
- anus
what do mucous membranes secrete?
sticky substance such as mucus, tears or wax which trap the pathogen
what are the components of mucous membranes?
- goblet cells
- cilia
- mucus secreting glands
what are charcateristics of inflammation?
pain, redness, heat and swelling of the tissue
what do mast cells release?
- histamines
- cytokines
when are mast cells activated?
during inflammation
how do histamines cause inflammation?
- vasodilation causes localised heat and redness, preventing pathogens reproducing
- increased permeability of blood vessel walls, creates more tissue fluid, causing swelling
what do cytokines do to defend against pathogens?
they are signalling molecules that attract phagocytes to them, so they can dispose of the pathogens by phagocytosis
what is a blood clot?
- a temporary seal made of a mesh of fibrin fibres to prevent infection until the skin is repaired
what is required for the blood to clot?
- calcium ions
- at least 12 clotting factors
where are clotting factors released from?
platelets from the damaged tissues
what to clotting factors activate?
an enzyme cascade which produces a large amount of fibrin to quickly seal the wound
how does a blood clot form?
1) platelets encounter the collagen in the damage blood vessel
2) platelets adhere to the wall and begin secreting thromboplastin and serotonin
3) once the clot had formd it dries out, forming a scab, which pulls the sides of the cut together