Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Biology > Infection And Response > Flashcards

Infection And Response Flashcards

1
Q

Communicable disease

A

Caused by pathogens such as bacteria and viruses
that can be passed from person to person

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Bacteria

A

Single-celled living organisms

Split in two and produces toxins

Reproduce rapidly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Bacterial diseases - gonorrhoea

A

A sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a bacterium

It causes a burning pain when urinating and often forms a thick yellow or green discharge

To prevent infection, people can abstain from having anal, oral or vaginal sex or use a condom

Antibiotics against gonorrhoea

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Bacterial diseases - salmonella

A

A bacteria that causes food poisoning

Often found in unhygienic kitchens, undercooked foods, or the same foods that have not been reheated properly

All poultry is vaccinated against it to stop the spread

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Virus

A

Very, very small and have a regular shape

Take over the cells of your body to reproduce, causing damage and destroying cells

Reproduce rapidly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Viral diseases - tobacco mosaic virus

A

Transmitted by contact between plants, either naturally or through the hands of farmers

Effects the chloroplasts - changing colour from green to yellow/white

Reduces ability to photosynthesise and reduces crop yields

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Viral diseases - HIV/AIDS

A

Transmitted by body fluids, often during unprotected sex, but also through cuts and injecting drugs using shared needles

After infection, people often suffer mild flu-like symptoms

AIDS is the last stage of HIV - attacks the immune system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Viral diseases - measles

A

Transmitted through the air in tiny droplets after an infected person sneezes

Children develop a fever and a rash

There are vaccines against measles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Protists

A

A eukaryotic, usually a single-celled, organism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Protist diseases - malaria

A

A potentially fatal disease spread by mosquitoes

Causes a fever and a rash

Spread of malaria is controlled by preventing the vectors, mosquitos, from breeding and by using mosquito nets to avoid being bitten

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Fungi

A

A large group of eukaryotic organisms that contain single-celled yeasts, moulds and mushrooms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Fungal diseases - rose black spot

A

Transmitted in air or water, as well as through direct contact by gardeners

Infects leaves and causes black or purple spots on the leaves, the rest of the leaves often turn yellow and can drop off the plant

Treated using fungicides and removing infected plants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Natural barriers to pathogens

A

Chemical in tears

HCl acid in stomach

The skin on our body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Preventing spread of pathogens

A

Isolate those infected

Destroying vectors that carry the disease

Vaccinations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

White blood cells

A

Ingest pathogens (phagocytosis)

Produce antibodies

Produce antitoxins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Vaccinations

A

A dead or altered form of the disease causing pathogen to be introduced into the body, which contains a specific antigen

This causes white blood cells to produce complementary white blood cells

17
Q

Herd immunity

A

The protection given to a population against an outbreak of a specific disease when a very high percentage of the population has been vaccinated against it

18
Q

Antibiotics

A

Substance that controls the spread of bacteria in the body by killing them or stopping them reproducing

19
Q

Process of antibiotics

A

Antibiotics damage the bacterial cells but do not damage the host cells

They do not work on viral diseases as they reproduce inside host cells

20
Q

Antibiotics - penicillin

A

The first antibiotic was discovered in 1928 by Alexander Fleming when he noticed some bacteria in a petri dish was killed by penicillium mould

21
Q

Antibiotic resistance

A

The ability of bacteria to survive exposure to antibiotics, caused by mutations in their genes

22
Q

Reasons for antibiotic resistance

A

Overuse of antibiotics

Failing to complete the fully prescribed course by a doctor

23
Q

Painkillers

A

A chemical is taken to relieve pain associated with disease, but does not kill the pathogen

24
Q

Traditional drugs

A

Were extracted from plants and microorganisms

E.g. penicillium, digitalis (heart drug originated from foxgloves), painkiller aspirin (originated from a willow tree)

25
Q

Modern drugs

A

Tested for efficacy, toxicity and dosage

26
Q

Stages of drug testing

A

Preclinical trial (1) - drugs are tested on skin cells for efficacy and possible side effects

Preclinical trial (2) - drugs are tested on animals for efficacy and possible side effects

Clinical trials - drugs tested on healthy humans first (very low doses given)

27
Q

Placebo

A

A ‘dummy’ treatment with no medical or therapeutic value

28
Q

Double-blind trial

A

Neither the participants nor the researchers are aware which group has been given the drug and which group has been given the placebo

29
Q

Monoclonal antibodies

A

Are identical copies of one type of antibody

30
Q

Formation of monoclonal antibodies

A

An antigen is injected into a mouse

The mouse naturally produces lymphocytes, which produce antibodies specific to the antigen

Tumor cells which produce the lymphocytes are removed during a small operation

They are fused forming hybridoma, which divides producing more hybridoma specific to the original antigen

31
Q

Uses of monoclonal antibodies

A

Used in pregnancy tests

Cancer treatment and diagnosis

32
Q

Monoclonal antibodies in pregnancy tests

A

Pregnancy tests have been designed to bind with the hormone HCG found in the urine of pregnant women only

Monoclonal antibodies are attached to the end of a pregnancy test stick onto which a woman urinates

If she is pregnant, HCG will be present in her urine and will bind to the monoclonal antibodies on the test stick, causing a change in colour

33
Q

Nitrate deficiencies in plants

A

The amount of chlorophyll in the plant reduces, reducing the amount of photosynthesis that occurs in the plant

34
Q

Magnesium deficiencies in plants

A

Magnesium is used to make chlorophyll, compromising growth

35
Q

Plant’s defences against pathogens

A

Cellulose cell walls

Tough waxy cuticle on leaves

Layers of dead cells around stems (bark on trees) which fall off

Antibacterial chemicals

Poisons to deter herbivores

Thorns and hairs deter animals

Biology (10 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions