Microorganisms Flashcards
What are the types of microorganisms/infections
Viruses
Bacteria
Fungi/yeast
Protozoa
Helminths
Prions
What are the ‘big three’ infections
TB
HIV/AIDS
Malaria
What is trachoma and its effects
Bacterial disease and causes blindness (chlamydia)
What is toxoplasma gondii and its effects
It is a Protozoa and can infect all warm-blooded vertebrates
What is pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) and its effects
It is a fungus and is most common opportunistic infection in AIDS patients
Forms of transmission
Physical contact
Ingestion
Inhalation
Via vectors
what makes micro-specific microorganisms harmful
virulence factors
what makes host-specific microorganisms harmful
inflammation factors
what is the intra-host adaptation
the immune system ignoring microorganisms at one anatomical site but react to them at another
what is the inter-host adaptation
microorganisms that cross species barriers - may not produce disease in one host but can in another
what is the consequence of animals and humans sharing a common ecosystem
zoonoses -infections spreading from animals to humans
reverse zoonoses - infections spreading from humans to animals
what do CFRs depend on for their estimates
methods used to record deaths + strategies for diagnosing infection rates
what can CFRs influence
perceptions of risk versus hazard
Benefits and risks of live attenuated vaccines
Benefits: induce strong immunity
risks: risk due to live nature - esp for immuno-compromised individuals
benefits and risks of dead/subunit vaccines
benefits: using part of microorganism usually safer
risks: not as effective as live attenuated vaccines + require adjuvants to stimulate strong immune response
