Chapter 2- Pathogens Flashcards
What are pathogens?
Disease-causing micro-organisms.
Most pathogens cannot grow outside of a host: True or false?
True
What is an antigen?
Antigens are specially-structured molecules that sit on the surface of all cells and virus particles. They are detected by white blood cells, and are your immune system’s way to detect infection.
Name the symptoms of Cholera.
Diarrhoea, leading to death by dehydration.
Name the symptoms of Tuberculosis.
- Persistent cough (coughing up blood)
- High fever
- Weight loss
- Weakness
- Lung damage
- What is Chalara Ash dieback, what are the symptoms, and how is it spread?
It is a disease affecting ash trees that is caused by a fungus. The symptoms are leaf loss and lesions to the park. It is airborne, and the fungal spores can travel very far on the wind.
What is malaria, what are the symptoms, and how is it spread?
Malaria is a disease caused by a protists called plasmodium falciparum, found in swampy water. It is passed to humans via mosquito bites. The symptoms are damage to red blood cells, liver, kidneys, and brain. It can be fatal.
- Do viruses have a cellular structure?
- Are viruses true organisms?
- How do viruses multiply?
- How do viruses often function?
- No
- No.
- Viruses multiply by taking over cells’ DNA copying processes to make new viruses.
- By affecting many parts of the body simultaneously.
What is Ebola, how is it spread, and what are the symptoms?
Ebola is a disease caused by a virus. It is spread through bodily fluids.It spreads through the body affecting several different organs. Ebola breaks down blood vessels, liver and kidneys. It causes haemorrhagic fever.
What is HIV, how is it spread, and what are the symptoms?
HIV is a sexually transmitted disease that is caused by a virus. Is is spread through sexual contact. The primary consequence of contracting HIV is a compromised immune system, as the virus attacks white blood cells. This leads to AIDS about ten years later.
- Name a hidden pathogen.
- What percentage of people have this pathogen in their stomachs?
- What percentage of those people are asymptomatic?
- 20% of those people may develop what?
- Heliobacter pylori
- 50%
- 80%
- Ulcer.
- How do pathogens like the flu and TB spread?
- How long do pathogens survive outside of the body?
- Which pathogens spread in water?
- Which pathogens are spread via a vector?
- What is a vector?
- They are projected into the air through coughing and sneezing.
- Generally a day, but TB can survive for several months.
- Cholera, typhoid, dysentery
- Malaria
- A carrier, like a mosquito.
How is cholera spread, and how can it be prevented?
It is spread by water contaminated with the bacteria ‘vibrio cholarae’ and can be prevented by good sanitation.
How is tuberculosis spread, and how can spread be prevented?
Tuberculosis is spread by water droplets projected by coughing or sneezing. The fluid contains mycobacterium tuberculosis. Spread can be prevented by coughing or sneezing into a tissue, disposing of it immediately, and sanitising hands.
What bacteria can cause stomach ulcers, how are they caused, and how can they be prevented?
Helicobacter pylori. Spread via oral transmission. Prevented by good food hygiene and general cleanliness.
