Disease Flashcards
Define Pathogen
Disease causing celllular or non-cellualr agent
Define Disease
Any abnormality or failure in the body enabllibng it to not function properly
Define Parasite
An organism that lives on a host. This use the host for foood/shelter and contributng nothing to the hosts welfare
List the ways disease can be transmitted
- Direct contact (touching kissing etc etc)
- Exchange of bodily fluids
- Water
- Indirect contact (bed linen)
- Air e.g sneezing
- Food
- Vectors
What are vectors
Oraganisms that carry disease
Are prions cellular or non-cellular
Non-cellular
Where are prions produced
Nerve Cells
What do prions look like?
Folded pieces of protein
What do prions cause?
Degenerative neurological diseases
Where are prions located
Neurons
What are the two ways that you can get a prion infection
- Accquired infection: e.g contaminated meat
- Hereditary trait
Is there a treatment/cure for those who are affected by prions
NO
What is a normal prion protein referred to as?
PrPc
How do prions spread when in the body?
When a defective prions comes in contact with a normal prion it converts it into a infectious prion protein. This is all via simple contact.
What do prions eventually cause the cell to do?
Burst
What would you see in a deceased persons brain who was infected with prions and why?
Holes due to the prions bursting
Can prions be destroyed with heat or chemicals?
No
Are viruses cellular or non-cellular
Non-cellualr
What do viruses consist of?
A core of DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein coat also known as a capsid
What organisms do viruses infect?
All
Do viruses need to reproduce?
Yes
What shape are most viruses?
Shperical
Where can viruses only reproduce?
Inside a host cell
How do viruses invade host cells>
- Piercing cells surface
- Attaching to receptor sites and inject their genetic components
- A cell may take a virus in via endocytosis
- Injected genetic material will provide instructions to create new viral proteins
- injected material may lie hidden in the host cell before becoming active
What are bacteriophages?
A specific group of virsues that infect bacteria.
-they land and inject there DNA