diseases and immunity - key terms Flashcards

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1
Q

Define pathogen

A

a disease-causing organism.

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2
Q

Define transmissible disease

A

a disease in which the pathogen can be passed from one host to another.

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3
Q

Define direct contract

A

the pathogen is passed directly from one host to another through blood, body fluids, semen, etc.

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4
Q

Define indirect contract

A

the pathogen leaves the host and is carried in some way to another e.g., contaminated surfaces/food, from animals, from air

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5
Q

Define examples of mechanical barries

A

-Nostrils contain hairs that help trap dust
-The skin has a thick outer layer of dead cells

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6
Q

Define examples of chemical barriers

A

-Sticky mucus which can trap pathogens
-In the stomach, hydrochloric acid is secreted, which kills many of the bacteria in food

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7
Q

Define cells

A

Pathogens that manage to get through all these defences are destroyed by white blood cells.

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8
Q

Define antibody

A

proteins that bind to antigens, directly destroying or marking pathogens for destruction by phagocytes.

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9
Q

Define active immunity

A

defence against a pathogen by antibody production in the body.

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10
Q

Define passive immunity

A

short-term defences against a pathogen by antibodies acquired from another individual.

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11
Q

Define diarrhoea

A

loss of watery faeces

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12
Q

Define cholera/vibrio cholerae

A

Cholera is a disease caused by a bacterium transmitted in contaminated water.
The cholera bacterium produces a toxin that causes the secretion of chloride ions into the small intestine, causing lower osmotic water movement into the gut, causing diarrhoea, dehydration and loss of salts from the blood.

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