Pathogenic Organisms

Question 1

An organism that is capable of causing disease

Answer 1

Pathogen

Question 2

An organism too small to see with the naked eye. Can be advantageous or cause disease.

Answer 2

Micro organism

Question 3

Organism which colonises the host but causes no disease in normal circumstances

Answer 3

Commensal

Question 4

Microbe that only causes the disease if host defences are compromised e.g during chemo

Answer 4

Opportunist pathogen

Question 5

The degree to which an organism is pathogenic

Answer 5

Virulence / pathogenicity

Question 6

When a pathogen is carried harmlessly at a tissue site where it doesn’t cause disease.

Answer 6

Asymptomatic carriage

Question 7

Carry information but can’t replicate it. Need host cell for this

Answer 7

Virus

Question 8

Protein aggregates of PrP which can transmit disease of the CNS. Expressed in neurones

Answer 8

Prions

Question 9

Produces toxins to produce an immune response or death of cells

Answer 9

Bacteria

Question 10

Can be unicellular or multicellular and can grow in either form

Answer 10

Fungi

Question 11

Single celled eukaryotes which may replicate in host cells. Can move and are a major cause of death.

Answer 11

Protozoa

Question 12

Parasitic works - lives at hosts expense
Round worms
Flatworms
Tapeworms

Answer 12

Helminths