Bacteria/Disease

Question 1

What are pathogens?

Answer 1

Microbes that cause disease

Question 2

How do vaccines work?

Answer 2

A dead or altered form of disease that contains a specific antigen is injected into the body causing pathogens to be introduced to the body. This causes white blood cells to produce antibodies which attach to the antigen. Memory cells remain so if the pathogen re-enters the blood cells respond quickly - preventing infection.

Question 3

What is a phagocyte?

Answer 3

a type of white blood cell that is capable of engulfing and absorbing bacteria

Question 4

What is herd immunity?

Answer 4

The protection given to a population against an outbreak of a specific disease when a very high percentage of the population have been vaccinated against it.

Question 5

What are antibiotics?

Answer 5

Substances that control the spread of bacteria in the body by killing them or stopping them reproducing.

Question 6

What are painkillers and name 2 examples?

Answer 6

They are chemicals that relieve symptoms but don’t kill the pathogens. E.g, paracetamol, aspirin.

Question 7

What are some problems with antibiotics?

Answer 7

People overuse them, Fail to complete the prescribed course, used in farming

Question 8

Do vaccines protect against bacterial or viral diseases?

Answer 8

Both

Question 9

What can’t antibiotics destroy and why?

Answer 9

Viruses. Because they reproduce inside the cells and is difficult to develop drugs that kill the virus without damaging cells.

Question 10

What are the stages of development of drugs?

Answer 10

1. Tested in lab to see if toxic
2. Tested on animals to see effect on a whole living organism
3. given to healthy volunteers and patients - low doses to see side effects
4. if safe, tried of a small amount of people to see effect of disease
5. Bigger clinical trials to find optimum dose

Question 11

What are new drugs tested for?

Answer 11

Efficiency, toxicity and dosage

Question 12

What is double blind trial?

Answer 12

Neither patient or doctor knows which patients have received a placebo and which have received that actual drug.

Question 13

Why are double blind trials used?

Answer 13

1. avoid bias because no one
   knows
2. controls psychological effects

Question 14

Where do preclinical trials take place?

Answer 14

laboratory, on cells, tissues and live organisms

Question 15

Clinical trials…?

Answer 15

healthy volunteers and patients - low doses to test safety and higher doses to find optimum dose

Question 16

How does the human body defend itself from pathogens? (6 points)

Answer 16

1. Skin acts as a barrier
2. Eyes produce tears
3. Stomach contains hydrochloric acid
4. Mucus traps bacteria in the lungs
5. White blood cells engulf the pathogen, produce antitoxins and antibodies that help destroy the pathogen
6. Memory cells give a more rapid response if the pathogen re-enters