infection and response Flashcards
what is a communicable disease?
any disease that is infectious
what are communicable diseases caused by?
- viruses
- bacteria
- protists
- fungi
what is a pathogen?
any virus, bacteria, protist or fungus that causes an infectious disease. they are all microorganisms
do all microorganisms cause infectious diseases?
no, many are not pathogens. some bacteria are useful for making cheese or yogurt. we can eat fungi, eg mushrooms and quorn
how are pathogenic microorganisms spread?
- direct contact
- water
- air
what do pathogenic bacteria do?
their cells reproduce rapidly inside the body, producing toxins that damage tissues and make us feel ill
what is salmonella?
a type of food poisoning caused by bacteria ingested in / on food (usually chicken or egg) that has been prepared in unhygienic conditions.
what are the symptoms of salmonella?
- fever
- abdominal cramps
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
how are we safe from salmonella?
in the UK, poultry are vacinated against salmonella to control the spread of bacteria. people should take care while preparing chicken.
what is gonorrhoea?
a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by bacteria. it is spread by contact with an infected person.
what can we use to treat gonorrhoea?
the antibiotic penicillin worked well to treat gonorrhoea until resistant strains of bacteria evolved. scientists are researching to develop new treatments.
what are the symptoms of gonorrhoea?
- thick yellow or green discharge from the
penis or vagina - pain when urinating
how can we prevent gonorrhoea spreading?
antibiotics will kill the bacteria, but the infected person needs to use a barrier method of contraception e.g. condoms
what do pathogenic viruses do?
they reproduce rapidly inside cells, causing cell damage when theyre released
what is measles?
a viral disease that is serious and can cause death if the infected person suffers from complications. it is spread by inhaling droplets from sneezes and coughs
what are the symptoms of measles?
- red skin rash
- fever
how can we prevent measles spreading?
most young children are vaccinated against measles
what is HIV?
a viral disease that attacks the bodys immune cells (white blood cells). it is spread by sexual contact or exchange of bodily fluids such as blood (eg. when drug users share needles)
what are the first symptoms of HIV?
a flu-like illness is the first symptom. if successfully controlled, the virus doesnt attack the bodys immune cells
what is the last stage of HIV (AIDS)?
in the last stage of HIV, the immune system becomes seriously damaged and the infected person gets ill from any other infections eg. colds or flu, and sometimes cancers
how can we treat HIV?
medicines called antiretroviral drugs can successfully control the virus and prevent some damage to the the immune system. this can stop HIV becoming AIDS
what is tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)?
a virus that infects and damages many plant species including tomato
what are the symptoms of TMV?
- a mosaic coloured pattern appears on the
leaves - the pattern ranges from paler green, to
yellow or brown - it affects plant growth as less
photosynthesis occurs, so less glucose is
made - cells have less energy
what is rose black spot?
a fungal disease of rose plants. it is spread in the environment by wind or water (rain drops splashing)
what are the symptoms of rose black spot?
- purple or black spots appear on leaves
- leaves often turn yellow and fall off the
plant - affects the plant growth as there are fewer
leaves to photosynthesise
how can rose black spot be treated?
- fungicide sprays can be used
- removing and destroying affected leaves
helps prevent the spread of the fungus to
other leaves and plants
what is malaria?
a disease caused by a protist. the protist is spread by biting mosquitos as the protist is a parasite that lives in the mosquito for part of its life cycle.
what are the symptoms of malaria?
a fever and flu-like symptoms that recur every few days. the most common malaria infections cause fever every 3 or 4 days and can be fatal
what is a vector species?
a vector is a species that carries a microorganism from one infected individual to another. in malaria, the mosquito is the vector
how can we prevent the spread of malaria?
preventing the vector from spreading the protist, using mosquito nets to avoid being bitten. preventing the mosquitos from breeding keeps the vector numbers low
what are non-specific defence systems?
defences that the body has against all types of pathogens. these include skin, nose, trachea, bronchi, and stomach
how does the skin prevent pathogens entering?
the skin is a waterproof layer that prevents most pathogens from entering the body. if the skin is damaged, the wound is sealed quickly by forming a scab.
how does the nose prevent pathogens from entering?
the nose has hairs and mucus to trap airborne pathogenic microorganisms and stop them from getting further into the body.
how does the trachea/ bronchi prevent pathogens from entering?
they have sticky mucus to trap airborne pathogens, and also the cells lining these airways have cilia that waft the mucus up to the throat to be swallowed.