4.1.1: Commuicable Diseases

Question 1

What are communicable diseases caused by?

Answer 1

Pathogens: bacteria, viruses, protoctista, and fungi.

Pathogens cause harm by directly damaging tissue or through the release of toxins.

Question 2

List three diseases caused by bacteria.

Answer 2

• Tuberculosis
• Bacterial meningitis
• Ring rot

These diseases are significant in understanding the impact of bacterial infections.

Question 3

List three diseases caused by viruses.

Answer 3

• HIV/AIDS
• Influenza
• Tobacco mosaic virus

Viral diseases can have widespread effects on human health and agriculture.

Question 4

List two diseases caused by protoctista.

Answer 4

• Malaria
• Potato/tomato late blight

Protoctista are a diverse group that can cause significant agricultural and health issues.

Question 5

List two diseases caused by fungi.

Answer 5

• Black sigatoka
• Ringworm
• Athlete’s foot

Fungal diseases can affect both plants and humans.

Question 6

Define bacteria.

Answer 6

Prokaryotic cells classified by shape or cell wall structure.

Bacteria are one of the oldest forms of life on Earth.

Question 7

What are the different shapes of bacteria?

Answer 7

• Rod (bacilli)
• Spherical (cocci)
• Comma (vibrio)
• Spiralled (spirilla)
• Corkscrew (spirochaetes)

The shape of bacteria can influence how they interact with their environment.

Question 8

What determines whether a bacterium is classified as Gram-positive or Gram-negative?

Answer 8

The type of cell wall.

Gram staining is a crucial laboratory technique used in microbiology.