pathogens Flashcards
Whats a pathogen?
a microorganism that causes disease, such as a virus, bacteria, fungi, or parasite.
Antigens
Markers on pathogens that tell the body they are harmful.
What does the immune system do?
Immune system protects our body from pathogens. It Defends the body against pathogens using white blood cells.
White blood cells kill pathogens in how many ways?
3 ways
Name the ways pathogens are killed
Phagocytosis – White blood cells engulf and digest pathogens.
Antibodies – Bind to pathogens, marking them for destruction.
Antitoxins – Neutralize toxins released by pathogens.
Difference between antigens and antibodies
Antigens – Found on the surface of pathogens; they trigger an immune response.
Antibodies – Made by white blood cells; they attach to antigens to destroy pathogens.
How many types of white blood cells are there?
2
Name the 2 types of white blood cells
Phagocyte and lympoytes
What does the phagocites white blood cell do?
Engulf and digest pathogens (phagocytosis).
What does the lymphocites white blood cell do?
Make antibodies & antitoxins. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that help fight infections by targeting specific pathogens.
Antibodies
Antibodies – Proteins made by white blood cells to attack and destroy antigens.
What happens after lymphocytes?
After an infection, some lymphocytes turn into memory cells.
What is the role of memory cells?
After an infection, some lymphocytes turn into memory cells.
Remembers the pathogen, so if it infects again, the body produces antibodies faster.
What’s the role of antitoxins?
Neutralize toxins produced by bacteria
How does the vaccine work?
Weakened/dead pathogens injected into the body.
Stimulates memory cells to remember the disease.
Example: MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella).
Communicable disease
Communicable – Spread person to person (e.g. flu, tuberculosis).
Non-Communicable
Non-Communicable – Not infectious (e.g. cancer, heart disease).
Bacteriophage
A virus that infects bacteria.
Influenza (Flu)
Virus, spreads through droplets, causes fever, cough, fatigue.
2 types of resperation
aerobic and anaerobic resperation
Difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration
Aerobic Respiration (with oxygen)
Anaerobic Respiration (without oxygen)
Equation for aerobic respiration
Glucose + Oxygen → Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy
Equation for anaerobic respiration
Glucose → Lactic Acid + Little Energy
What happens in aerobic and anaerobic respiration?
Aerobic respiration
Happens in mitochondria.
Lots of energy released.
Anaerobic respiration
Less energy than aerobic.
Causes muscle fatigue due to lactic acid.
