B3 Infection And Response Flashcards
How is the stomach adapted to prevent infection?
Contains hydrochloric acid to destroy microorganisms in mucus or food/drink
How is the skin adapted to prevent infection?
Forms an outer protective layer. Produces secretions of mucus - traps pathogens
How are the trachea/bronchi adapted to prevent infection?
Cilia in the trachea trap and waft mucus back up to be swallowed
What are cilia?
Tiny hairs in the trachea
What is phagocytosis?
The process where white blood cells ingest pathogens and destroy them
What are white blood cells?
Lymphocytes
What are antigens?
Antigens are unique proteins found on the surface of bacteria cells
Why do white blood cells produce antibodies?
To neutralise the antigens produced by bacterium inside the body
Why do white blood cells produce antitoxins?
To neutralise the toxins produced by bacterium inside the body
Give 2 examples of diseases caused by fungal pathogens:
Athlete’s foot, rose black spot
What is a fungal pathogen?
Fungi that can cause disease in humans or other organisms
What is a bacterial pathogen?
Bacteria that can cause disease
Give 2 examples of diseases caused by bacterial pathogens:
Any 2 from:
Salmonella, gonorrhoea, cholera
What is a viral pathogen?
Particles which invade your body’s cells to reproduce inside body cells to damage/destroy them
Give 2 examples of diseases caused by viral pathogens:
Any 2 from:
Influenza (flu), HIV, measles, COVID-19, TMV (Tobacco Mosaic Virus)
What is a protist pathogen?
A single-celled organism of the kingdom protista, such as protoroan or simple alga
Name an example of a disease caused by protist pathogens:
Malaria
Give the 3 ways in which pathogens can spread:
- Direct contact of the skin or bodily fluids
- Tiny droplets in air
- Food and water
What are pathogens?
Micro-organisms that cause disease
Why do we have drug trials?
To prevent unexpected side-effects -> THALIDOMIDE
Which medication is sourced from foxglove?
Source of the heart drug ‘digitalis’
Which medication is sourced from willow?
Source of the painkiller ‘aspirin’
Which medication is sourced from mould?
Source of ‘penicillin’
Who discovered penicillin?
Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin by studying mould which had been left unattended
What are painkillers?
Drugs which relieve the symptoms
Give 2 examples of painkillers:
Aspirin and paracetamol
What are antibiotics?
Medicines which work inside the body to kill bacterial pathogens
Give an example of an antibiotic:
Penicillin
What do vaccines contain?
A small amount of dead or weakened pathogen particles, which will simulate the production of antibodies and train the immune system on what to do if these pathogens infect it later on.
What is herd immmunity?
When a large percentage of the population are immune to a disease
What are the 4 affecting factors when growing micro-organisms?
- Temperature
- Nutrients
- Oxygen
- pH
What does it mean to ‘culture’ bacteria?
To grow large bacteria numbers in order to observe colonies
What is agar jelly?
Medium containing carbohydrate (glucose) minerals and nitrogen source (proteins)
Why do we incubate at 25 degrees Celsius when growing micro-organisms?
To reduce the chance of growing harmful pathogens
What temperature is most ideal for growing harmful pathogens ?
37.5 degrees Celsius
What type of pathogen is malaria a result of?
A single-celled parasite called a protist. These reproduce sexually in mosquitoes and asexually in humans