Microbes Flashcards
Communicational diseases
diseases that can be transmitted from one person to another
Non- communicable diseases
Cant be transmitted from one person to another
Examples of communicable diseases
Measles
Mumps
Rubella
Malaria
Examples of Non communicable diseases
Cancer
Heart attacks
Diabetes
Athsma
Bacteria description of structure
Cocci are spherical in shape, bacilli are rod shaped, spirochetes are spirals. Some may have long filament called flagellum attached. Allowing them to move.
Bacteria is dangerous because
Bacteria are responsible for many diseases/illnesses, including MRSA, salmonella and Tuberculosis. They also cause food to go ‘off’. Bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics.
Why can bacteria be useful
Some are very useful to humans- e.g for the production of yoghurt, treating sewage, and genetic engineering
Virus description of structure
Their structure is a head capsule (that contains DNA) with a long tail with an end plate attached
Viruses are dangerous because
Viruses cause many diseases including all flu (the influenza virus), chicken pox, mumps and aids (the HIV virus). Flu viruses can change into many different forms meanings that you cannot be immune to the flu,
Viruses can be useful because
Humans can also make use of viruses in genetic engineering
Fungi description of structure
They have a spore case and a network of threads forming a structure called a mycelium
Fungi are dangerous because
Fungi are responsible for the athletes foot infection as well as ringworm and thrush. They also spoil food e.g. bread mould
Fungi Can be useful because
Yeast is probably the best known fungus – it is used in the baking and bringing interest-rate. Fungi are also used in the cheese industry – think of smelly blue cheeses
4 different ways pathogens are spread
Airborne
Water (droplets)
Direct contact
Indirect contact
Microbes
Microbes are very small living things that can only be seen clearly with a microscope. When we think of microbes we often think of the disease and illnesses they can cause and it is true that many are extremely dangerous (pathogens). Microbes can also help us, they have many useful applications.
