response to infection Flashcards
(207 cards)
disease definition
a condition that impairs the normal functioning of an organism
how does invaders cause disease?
number of mechanisms to protect body from invading organisms, when these mechanisms are overcome, invaders cause disease
pathogens
disease causing organisms
communicable infectious diseases
diseases that are spread from one person to another
most common pathogens that affects the body
bacteria and viruses
bacteria - structural characteristics
- cell wall
- no nucleus (prokaryotes)
- flagellum present
- DNA in the form of plasmids
majority of bacteria are…
non pathogenic
uses of bacteria
- essential to life e.g. decomposition of organic material
- industrial processes e.g. lactobacilli to make yogurt and sauerkraut
location of bacteria
live in skin & inside intestines
how does bacteria affect the body?
affect the body differently depending on the species
effects of bacteria
producing toxins & inducing allergic responses
size of bacteria
very small (microscopic) = diameter from 0.5 to 2.0 micrometers
under microscope, shape of cells is visible → used to classify
how to identify bacterium
grown on an agar player/growth medium in specific conditions → stained → viewed under microscope
viruses definition
microscopic infectious agents
virus structural characteristics
- all contain genetic material in the form of DNA or RNA (but never both)
- consist of a protein sheath surrounding a core of nucleic acid
- some also have an external lipid envelope
reproduction of virus particles
- totally dependent on living cells for reproduction
- not living things - cannot reproduce by themselves
- infect a living cell and it’s DNA/RNA induces the cell to manufacture more virus particles
- new virus particles leave the host cell → infect others
bacteriophages
viruses that infect bacteria
contagious disease
communicable disease may be spread by the transmission of pathogenic organism from one person to another
vectors with examples
intermediate host of the pathogen, e.g. fleas, mosquitoes
transmission of pathogens
- transmission by contact
- ingestion of food or drink
- transfer of body fluids
- infection by droplets
- airborne transmission
- transmission by vectors
transmission of contact
- spread of pathogen by physical contact
- direct = actually touching infected person
- indirect = touching an object that has been touched by infected individual
transmission of contact examples
skin infections, STIs
ingestion of food and drink
contaminated with pathogens
ingestion of food and drink examples
salmonella food poisoning, dysentery