B5 - Communicable Diseases Flashcards
4 types of microorganisms (microbes)
- fungus
- protozoa
- bacteria
- virus
define pathogen
microbes that cause disease
how do pathogens cause a person to feel ill
- releasing toxins
- reproducing themselves and hijacking body cells
- immune system reaction making temperature higher
how are diseases transmitted
droplets - microbes in small droplets
direct contact
food contamination
water contamination
4 human physical defences against pathogens
eyes
skin
ciliated epithelial cells
stomach
how does the stomach defend against pathogens?
High acidity in stomach acid (pH 2) which kills pathogens
how do the eyes defend against pathogens?
antiseptics found in tears which kill pathogens
how do ciliated epithelial cells defend against pathogens?
Small hairs and mucus on these cells stop pathogens from entering the lungs. The hairs waft pathogens up to the mouth which is mixed with saliva and swallowed sending it to the stomach.
how does the skin defend against pathogens?
2
- dry and oily conditions so pathogens cannot easily live on the skin
- wounds clot and close because of platelets
define binary fission
asexual reproduction process where a cell replicates and splits forming two daughter cells, a simple form of mitosis
define antiseptic
chemical that kills microbes on the surface of the body
define antibiotic
chemical that kills microbes inside the body
define disinfectant
chemical that kills microbes on surfaces
formula to calculate the number of bacteria in a population
P = c · 2D
D = total division cycles
P = population
c = starting population
How to grow microorganisms on a petri dish.
- All equipment used must be sterilised to kill unwanted microbes
- Sterilise the inoculating loop with a Bunson burner, then let it cool
- Place the inoculating loop in the bacteria that you want to grow
- Spread the bacteria on the surface of the agar in the petri dish. Always keep the agar plate upside down when open and possible to make sure no particles contaminate the surface by landing on it
- fix the lid with tape to make sure that microbes in the air don’t contaminate the culture
- incubate (25°C) the petri dish for several days for the culture to grow
HIV facts
- viral disease
- spread by direct contact - usually sexual contact or sharing needles
- symptoms are flu-like
- controlled with antiretroviral drugs
- attacks the body’s immune cells
- HIV turns into AIDS when the body’s immune system becomes so badly damaged it can no longer deal with other infections or cancers
- high mutation rate meaning that the immune system cannot fight off infection
list:
measles facts
pathogen type, spread by, symptoms, treatment
- viral disease
- spread by droplets
- symptoms: fever and red skin rash, fatality
- children are usually vaccinated at a young age (MMR)
TMV facts
pathogen type, spread by, symptoms
- Tobacco Mosaic Virus
- spread by direct contact and insects as vectors
- gives a black ‘mosaic’ like pattern on the plant’s leaves, yellow discoloration
- affects the growth of the plant as it has a lack of photosynthesis
list:
salmonella facts
pathogen type, spread by, symptoms
- bacterial disease
- spread by contaminated food
- symptoms: fever, abdominal cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea
- symptoms caused by toxins released
- UK poultry are vaccinated against Salmonella
list
gonorrhoea facts
pathogen type, spread by, symptoms, treatment
- bacterial disease
- spread by direct contact - sexual contact
- symptoms: thick yellow-green discharge from the vagina or penis, pain while urinating
- spread can be controlled by antibiotics or barrier methods such as a condom
list:
rose black spot facts
pathogen type, spread by, symptoms, treatment
- fungal disease
- spread by water or wind in spores
- purple-black spots develop on leaves, often turn yellow and drop early
- treated by using fungicides or removing and destroying the affected leaves
Malaria facts
- caused by protists
- fever-like symptoms
- can be fatal
- spread is controlled by preventing the vectors, mosquitos, from breeding and by using mosquito nets to avoid being bitten
define antigens
protein markers on the surface of cells
role of T-lymphocytes
Collect antigens from pathogens to find the correct B-lymphocyte to help