Definitions

Question 1

A large group of unicellular microorganisms w/o organelles or a nucleus, most of which have cell walls.

Answer 1

bacteria

Question 2

a core of nucleic acid and surrounded by a protein shell which can only reproduce in a living cell. Cannot be classified as a microorganism.

Answer 2

Virus

Question 3

A large and varied group of eukaryotes that are either parasitic or saprophytic. Some can act as pathogens in humans.

Answer 3

Fungi

Question 4

An organism that lives in or on, and benefits from, another organism whilst causing harm to its host.

Answer 4

parasite

Question 5

an organism that grows and feeds on dead or decaying organic material

Answer 5

saprophyte

Question 6

a microorganism (or virus) that causes disease

Answer 6

pathogen

Question 7

commensal

Answer 7

an organism that lives in or on, and benefits from, another organism. The hose receives no benefit but is not harmed.

Question 8

the pathogenic ability of a microbe. used as a measure of severity

Answer 8

virulence

Question 9

infection

Answer 9

the invasion and multiplication of pathogens in the body causing damage to tissues/triggering an immune response

Question 10

contagious

Answer 10

able to be transmitted from one human to another

Question 11

colonisation

Answer 11

the presence of bacteria on a body surface which is not causing disease in the host

Question 12

contamination

Answer 12

the accidental introduction of microorganisms

Question 13

the time between exposure to a pathogen and the development of symptoms

Answer 13

incubation period

Question 14

the time in which a host can spread the disease and infect others

Answer 14

infectious period

Question 15

transmissibility (aka. infectivity)

Answer 15

how easily pathogens are spread, i.e. proportion of persons exposed to a pathogen who are infected by it.