Defending Ourselves Against Disease Flashcards
Why did it take a long time for others to accept the ideas of Semmelweis?
No one knew about bacteria and viruses
How do pathogens make you feel ill?
Pathogens produce toxins and damage cells
How are many pathogens prevented from entering the body?
The skin stops pathogens entering, also mucus, stomach acid
How do white blood cells defend the body?
They ingest pathogens, produce antibodies and produce antitoxins
What is meant by ‘vaccination’?
Injection/oral drops of a dead or inactive pathogen to stimulate the white blood cells to produce antibodies
How do antibodies ‘recognise’ antigens?
By their shape
Why are antibiotics only able to kill bacteria?
Viruses are inside body cells
Why do some pathogens spread rapidly?
Very few people are immune to the new pathogen and no effective treatment is available
How does natural selection cause resistant populations of bacteria to develop?
Antibiotics kill the non-resistant strains which allows the resistant strains to survive and multiply as they have no competition
Why do industrial laboratories use 35 degrees celsius instead of 25 degrees celsius as in schools?
The bacteria will grow at a faster rate
How do you make sure that unwanted microorganisms do not contaminate a pure culture of bacteria?
Heat/sterilise all equipment, boil solutions, cover Petri dishes or flasks
