Communicable diseases key terms

Question 1

pathogen

Answer 1

a microorganism that causes disease

Question 2

Direct transmission

Answer 2

passing a pathogen from host to new host with no intermediary

Question 3

indirect transmission

Answer 3

passing a pathogen from host to new host via a vector

Question 4

transmission

Answer 4

passing a pathogen from an infected individual to a uninfected individual

Question 5

vector

Answer 5

an organism that carries a pathogen from one host to another

Question 6

callose

Answer 6

a large polysaccharide deposit that block old phloem sieve tubes

Question 7

inflammation

Answer 7

swelling and redness of tissue caused by infection

Question 8

mucous membrane

Answer 8

specialised epithelial tissue that is covered by mucus

Question 9

primary defences

Answer 9

those that prevent pathogens entering the body

Question 10

antigen presenting cells

Answer 10

a cell that isolates the antigen from a pathogen and places it on the plasma membrane so it can be recognised by other cells in the immune system

Question 11

clonal selection

Answer 11

selection of specific B or T cell that is specific to the antigen

Question 12

cytokines

Answer 12

hormone like molecules used in cell signalling to stimulate the immune response

Question 13

neutrophil

Answer 13

a type of white blood cell that engulfs foreign matter and traps it in a large vacuole (phagosome) which fuses with lysosomes to digest the foreign matter

Question 14

opsonins

Answer 14

proteins that can bind to the antigen on a pathogen and then allow phagocytes to bind

Question 15

antibodies

Answer 15

specific proteins released by plasma cells that can attach to pathogenic organisms

Question 16

B memory cells

Answer 16

cells that remain in the blood for a long time providing long term immunity

Question 17

clonal expansion

Answer 17

an increase in the number of cells by mitotic cell division

Question 18

interleukins

Answer 18

signalling molecules that are used to communicate between different white blood cells

Question 19

plasma cells

Answer 19

derived from the B lymphocytes these are cells that manufacture antibodies

Question 20

T-helper cells

Answer 20

cells that release signalling molecules to stimulate the immune response

Question 21

T-killer cells

Answer 21

cells that attack and destroy our own body cells that are infected by a pathogen

Question 22

T-memory cells

Answer 22

cells that remain in the blood for a long time providing long term immunity

Question 23

T-regulator cells

Answer 23

cells that are involved with ending the Immune response

Question 24

agglutinins

Answer 24

antibodies that cause pathogens to stick together

Question 25

anti toxins

Answer 25

antibodies that render toxins harmless

Question 26

opsonins

Answer 26

antibodies that make it easier for phagocytes to engulf the pathogen

Question 27

primary immune response

Answer 27

the initial response caused by a first infection

Question 28

secondary immune response

Answer 28

a more rapid and vigorous response caused by a second or subsequent infection by the same pathogen

Question 29

active immunity

Answer 29

when the immune system is activated and manufactures its own antibodies

Question 30

artificial immunity

Answer 30

immunity that is achieved as a result o medical intervention

Question 31

epidemic

Answer 31

a rapid spread of disease through a high proportion of the population

Question 32

natural immunity

Answer 32

immunity achieved through normal life processes

Question 33

passive immunity

Answer 33

immunity achieved when antibodies are passed on to the individual through breastfeeding or antibody injection

Question 34

vaccination

Answer 34

a way of stimulating the immune response so that immunity is achieved

Question 35

Antibiotic

Answer 35

a chemical which prevents the growth of microorganisms, antibiotics can be antifungal or antibacterial

Question 36

Personalised medicine

Answer 36

the development of designer medicines for individuals

Question 37

Synthetic biology

Answer 37

the re-engineering of biology - production of new molecules that mimic natural processes - the use of natural molecules to produce new biological systems that do not exist in nature