Infection And Response Flashcards
(31 cards)
What are pathogens
Microorganisms that cause communciable diseases. Bacteria,viruses,protists and fungi
What is bacetria and what do they do
Small prokaryotic cells that can infect both plants and animals
They reproduce rapidly in optimum conditions and release toxins that damage cells and tissue
What are viruses and what do they do
Don’t classify as living organisms because they rely on host cells to survive and reproduce
They insert genetic material into cells of infected organisms and use the cell to reproduce rapidly. This cause the cell to burst, releasing more viruses causing more infection.
What are prokaryotic cells and what do they do
Eukaryotic organisms that are often single-celled
They can live on or in a host organisms and cause them damage or transferred between hosts by organisms which don’t get the disease (vectors)
What is fungi and what does it do
It grows on living tissue and can be either single-celled or have a body made of hyphae
Hyphae penetrates living tissue,causing infections, and produce spores which allows infections to spread to other organisms
Fungal infections are mostly common in plants but a few animals can be infected
How do pathoegns spread
Air- some pathogens can be found in droplets from coughs or sneezes that are carried airbone and breathed by another organism.
Water-pathogens found in dirty water can be picked up by drinking or bathing in it
Direct contact- some pathogens can be acquired by touching contaminated surfaces or skin
Vectors- pathogens can be transferred between organisms by vectors
How can diseases become prevented
Coughing or sneezing in a tissue or a sleeve away from people
Washing your hands regularly with soap and hand hot water after using the toilet or before eating
Diseases spread by direct contact and air can be prveented by isolated the diseased individual
Spread of vector-borne diseases can be prevented by killing vectors carrying the disease (insecticides or detstroying their habitats)
Vaccinations prevent diseases spreading as they stop people and animals from developing the disease and pass it on
Viral diseases symptons and examples
Measles: spread by coughs snd sneezes (airborne)
Symptons: red skin rash and a fever
Teatment-vaccinations (no treatment)
HIV: spread through exchange of bodily fluids such sex and blood exchange
Symptoms: lead to aids, flu like symptons, damages the immune sympton
Treatment: antiretroviral drugs slow virus by preventing it attacking immunity cells
Tobacco Mosaic virus: plant virus
Symptons:distinct mosaic pattern visible on leaves, discolourlatipn of leaf limits photosynthesis
Treatment: isolate infected plants
Bacterial diseas symptons and examples
Salmonella: acquired by animals before death or invalid prep
Symptons:fever,abdominal cramps,vomiting and diarrhoea
Treatment: poultry vaccinated against salmonella to prevent disease
Gonorrhoea: an STD
Symptoms: thick yellow or green discharge from penis or vagina and pain when urinating
Treatment: spread of disease prevented using antibiotics and use of condoms
Fungal disease symptons and examples
Rose black spots disease: infects rose plants
Symptons: black/purple dots visible on leaves casuing them to turn yellow and fall, plants struggle to photosynthesise
Treatment:fungicides can be used to treat plants or infected leaves can be removed and destroyed
Protist disease symptons and examples
Malaria: caused by a protist that gets transported by a vector (mosquitos) life.
Symptons:repeated fever epsiodes that can be fatal
Teatment:stop mosquitos breeding and protecting people with mosquito nets and insecticides
What is a non specific defence and example and what they do
Defense system that defends the body against all pathogens
Skin: covers majority of body as a physical barrier to prevent pathogens from entering. Platelets form scabs by clotting blood to prevent pathogens from entering cute
Nose: hair and mucus act as a physical barrier and trap pathogens from entering through air.
Trachea and bronchi: goblets cells produce mucus and trap pathogens. Cila hairs waft mucus and pathogens up to the throat to be sent to the stomach
Stomach: contains very acidic hydrochloric acid that acts as a chemical barrier
What is a phagocytes and their function
A non-specific process by which phagocytes engulf and digest pathogens.
What is a lymphocyte and their function
Antigens on the pathogen detected by the lymphocyte. Antibodies produced with specific shapes that bind to the antigen causing it to clump to be easily digested by phagocytes
Memory lymphocytes left over incase the individual is infected in the future,
Antitoxins are also produced by lymphocytes to neutralise toxic substances produced by the pathogen stopping cell and tissue damage
What is a vaccination
Contains dead/weak forms of pathogens. Injected in the body to produce an immune response where lymphocytes produce antibodies to destroy it.
How do vaccinations prevent disease
Memory lymphocytes left over after they destroy the weak/damaged form of the pathogen by producing antigens foricng it to clump and engulfed by a phagocyte.
The memory lymphocytes will prodcue the correct antibodies to destroy the same pathogen
Pathogens destroyed before becoming infectious reducing spread of disease
Advanatge of vaccines
Reduced occurence of diseases and eradicated others
Herd immunity prevents epidemics
Disadvanatges of vaccines
Vaccines are not skways 100% effective at providing immunity
Side effects of different severities, from rashes to fevers
What is a painkiller
Painkillers such as aspirin and paracetamol do not cure the disease itself so the body’s immune response destory the pathogen
What is an antibiotic
A drug used to slow or stop the growth of harmful bacteria in the body it only works on bacteria
How do antibiotics become resistsnt
1) random mutation happens in the genetic material of bacterial cells that make it resistant to a certain type of antibiotic
2) The bacteria survives the treatment and reproduces in the body carrying an increase of the resistant bacterial strain
How to limit antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance can evolve very quickly (binary fission) to slso the rate of development if resistsnt strains limit the use of antibiotics to more serious infections
How were drugs made (origins)
From various plants and microorganisms
How are drugs made now
Synthesied by chemists in labs. Drugs are based on the orginsl chemicals from plants and microorganisms
