Short Answer questions Flashcards
- Vaccination
Vaccination is a preventive healthcare measure where an individual is exposed to an antigen derived from a pathogen, usually in a weakened or inactivated form, to stimulate the immune system to produce an immune response. This exposure allows the body to develop memory cells specific to that pathogen, so if the person is exposed to the actual disease in the future, their immune system can recognize and respond to it more quickly and effectively. Vaccination helps in building immunity against infectious diseases, thereby reducing their spread and incidence in the population.
Describe key characteristics of viruses
- Non-living infectious agents that require a host cell to replicate.
- Made up of genetic material (DNA or RNA) enclosed in a protein coat called a capsid.
- Do not have cellular structures and cannot perform metabolic functions independently.
- Can cause a wide range of diseases by hijacking the host’s cellular machinery for reproduction.
Describe key characteristics of Bacteria
- Single-celled prokaryotic organisms with a cell wall.
- Capable of independent reproduction through binary fission.
- Exist in various shapes (e.g., cocci, bacilli, spirilla).
- Can be beneficial (gut microbiota) or pathogenic, causing diseases by producing toxins or invading tissues.
Describe key characteristics of Parasites
- Organisms that live on or inside a host organism, often causing harm to the host.
- Include protozoa (single-celled eukaryotes) and helminths (parasitic worms).
- Depend on the host for nutrients and can lead to chronic infections or malnutrition.
- Transmitted through various means, such as contaminated food, water, or insect vectors.
Describe key characteristics of Fungi
- Eukaryotic organisms that include yeasts (unicellular) and molds (multicellular).
- Have cell walls made of chitin.
- Can reproduce through spores and thrive in moist environments.
- Some fungi are pathogenic to humans, causing infections like ringworm and candidiasis, while others are beneficial (e.g., in decomposition).
How are lipids digested and utilized for energy? Complicated
Lipids are first emulsified in the small intestine by bile salts, which are produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. This emulsification process breaks down large fat droplets into smaller droplets, increasing the surface area for digestive enzymes. The enzyme lipase, secreted by the pancreas, further breaks down triglycerides into free fatty acids and monoglycerides. These smaller molecules are then absorbed by the cells lining the intestine and transported via the lymphatic system as chylomicrons.
Once inside cells, fatty acids can undergo β-oxidation in the mitochondria to generate acetyl-CoA, which enters the Krebs cycle to produce ATP, the cell’s energy currency. Lipids provide a high energy yield compared to carbohydrates and proteins, making them a vital source of long-term energy storage in the body.
How are lipids digested and utilized for energy? shortened
Lipids are emulsified by bile salts in the small intestine, then broken down by the enzyme lipase into fatty acids and monoglycerides. These products are absorbed and transported through the lymphatic system. Inside cells, fatty acids undergo β-oxidation, producing acetyl-CoA, which enters the Krebs cycle to generate ATP, providing energy.
Bile salts emulsify fats in the digestive system, breaking them into smaller droplets that enzymes can more easily digest, aiding in lipid utilization for energy.
What is the difference between DALY, YLL, and YLD?
DALY (Disability-Adjusted Life Years): A measure of overall disease burden, combining years of life lost (YLL) due to premature death and years lived with disability (YLD).
YLL (Years of Life Lost): The number of years lost due to premature death.
YLD (Years Lived with Disability): The number of years lived with a disability, weighted by the severity of the condition.
- Compare the spontaneous generation theory with the germ theory of disease.
Spontaneous generation proposed that life arises from non-living matter, while the germ theory established that microorganisms cause disease.
- List two major structural differences between bacterial cells and human cells.
Bacterial cells lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, while human cells have both. Bacteria also have a cell wall, which human cells do not.
- Identify the main structural components of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.
Carbohydrates: Monosaccharides.
Lipids: Fatty acids and glycerol.
Proteins: Amino acids.
- Explain the purpose of Gram staining in microbiology.
Gram staining differentiates bacteria into Gram-positive and Gram-negative, aiding in identification and understanding their cell wall structure.
- Briefly explain how lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins are digested in the human body.
Carbohydrates: Digested by enzymes like amylase.
Proteins: Digested by proteases.
Lipids: Digested by lipases with bile salts.
- Differentiate between antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antiparasitic agents.
Antibacterial: Targets bacteria.
Antifungal: Targets fungi.
Antiviral: Targets viruses.
Antiparasitic: Targets parasites.
- List two characteristics each of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.
Bacteria: Prokaryotic, can reproduce independently.
Viruses: Non-cellular, require a host to reproduce.
Fungi: Eukaryotic, can be multicellular or unicellular.
Parasites: Often eukaryotic, live on/in a host.
