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Biology > Topic 3- Communicable diseases > Flashcards

Topic 3- Communicable diseases Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

What is a communicable disease

A

A disease caused by a pathogen which can be passed between animals or plants

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2
Q

What is a pathogen?

A

A disease-causing microorgansim

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3
Q

How do bacteria cause disease?

A

Once inside the body, they divide rapidly by binary fission. Thy kill cells and produce harmful toxins

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4
Q

How do viruses cause disease?

A

They invade and reproduce inside living body cells, leading to cell damage

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5
Q

Give three way in which pathogens can be spread

A

-By air
-By water
-By direct contact

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6
Q

Give four ways in which the spread of pathogens can be reduced

A

-Hygiene
-Reducing contact with infected individuals
-Removing vectors
-Vaccinations

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7
Q

Why is it especially important to prevent the spread of viral diseases?

A

Scientists have not yet developed cures for many viral diseases

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8
Q

What is measles?

A

Measles is a serious viral disease that can cause blindness and brain damage. The main symptoms are a fever and red skin rash.

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9
Q

How is measles spread?

A

By air- through inhalation of droplets from coughs and sneezes

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10
Q

What is HIV/AIDS?

A

HIV is a virus which attacks and damages the immune system until it can no longer function properly. AIDS is the condition resulting from a long-term HIV infection. There is no cure or vaccine for HIV/AIDS

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11
Q

How is HIV spread?

A

Direct sexual contact and the exchange of bodily fluids

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12
Q

How can the spread of HIV/AIDS be prevented?

A

-use of condoms
-screening of blood for transfusions
-not sharing needles
-bottle-feeding by HIV-positive mothers
-use of antiretroviral drugs to prevent the development of AIDS

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13
Q

What is tobacco mosaic virus?

A

A plant pathogen which causes leaf discolouration when cells are damaged. Affected areas cannot photosynthesise, reducing crop yield. As there is no treatment, farmers grow TMV-resistant crop strains to avoid infection

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14
Q

How is tobacco mosaic virus spread?

A

Contact between infected and healthy plants
Insects may act as a vector

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15
Q

What is salmonella?

A

A type of bacteria found in raw meat, poultry and eggs. If they enter the body via food poisoning, they can affect natural gut bacteria

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16
Q

What are the symptoms of salmonella food poisoning?

A

Fever
Abdominal cramping
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
May be fatal in very young or elderly populations due to risk of dehydration.

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17
Q

How can the spread of salmonella be limited?

A

Vaccinating animals intended for consumption
Keep raw meat away from cooked meat
Disinfect hands and surfaces after contact with raw meat
Thoroughly cook meat

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18
Q

What is gonorrhoea?

A

A sexually transmitted bacterial infection caused by unprotected sex with an infected individual. Early symptoms include yellow/green discharge from genitals and painful urination, it can be symptomless

Its spread can be controlled through the use of antibiotics and using condoms

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19
Q

What is rose black spot?

A

A fungal disease which causes purple or black spots to develop on rose leaves. It reduces the area of the leaf which is available for photosynthesis and causes leaves to turn yellow and drop prematurely

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20
Q

How is the rose black spot fungus spread?

A

Fungal spores are spread by the wind and in the water

21
Q

How can the rose black spot fungus be treated?

A

Using fungicides
Destroying infected leaves

22
Q

What is malaria?

A

Malaria is a disease caused by protist pathogens. The disease is carried from host to host by mosquitoes, and the protists enter the human bloodstream when they feed. Symptoms may include fever and shaking, and it may also be fatal in some cases.

23
Q

How can the spread of malaria be reduced?

A

Using insecticides
Using insect nets to avoid bites
Prevent mosquito breeding by removing stagnant water
Antimalarial drugs

24
Q

How does the skin prevent pathogens from entering the body?

A

Acts as a physical barrier
Scab formation after skin is cut/wounded
Antimicrobial secretions which can kill pathogens
Healthy skin flora compete with pathogens and act as an additional barrier
Lysosomes are released by glands in the skin, they break down cell walls of some bacteria

25
Q

How does the respiratory system prevent pathogens from entering the body?

A

Nose- has hairs and mucus which trap pathogens
Trachea and bronchi- have mucus that traps pathogens. Ciliated cells move mucus to the mouth so it can be swallowed

26
Q

How does the stomach prevent pathogens infecting the body?

A

Secretes hydrochloric acid- kills any pathogens present

27
Q

How does phagocytosis protect us against disease?

A

Phagocytes ingest and destroy pathogens so they cannot infect anymore cells

28
Q

How does antibody production protect us against disease?

A

White blood cells produce antibodies which are complementary to a specific antigen on a pathogen. The binding of antibodies to antigens causes pathogens to clump together, making them easier to destroy. In the case of a second infection, the correct antibodies can be produced rapidly as memory cells have been made, preventing the person getting the same disease again.

29
Q

How does antitoxin production protect us against disease?

A

Antitoxins bind to toxins released by pathogens and neutralise them

30
Q

What is a vaccination?

A

Contains a dead or inactivated form of the pathogen which stimulates white blood cells to produce complementary antibodies to the pathogen. In the case of a second infection, memory cells can rapidly produce the correct antibodies and prevent illness.

31
Q

What is herd immunity?

A

If a sufficiently high proportion of a population are immune to a disease (especially through vaccination), the spread of this disease will be limited

32
Q

What are the advantages of vaccinations?

A

They have eradicated many deadly diseases
Many epidemics can be prevented by vaccinations
Herd immunity protects those who cannot have vaccinations

33
Q

What are the disadvantages of vaccinations?

A

Not guaranteed to work- might not protect against multiple strains of a pathogen
May be side effects or adverse reactions

34
Q

What drugs are used to cure some bacterial diseases?

A

Antibiotics - they can kill bacterial pathogens inside the body

35
Q

How do antibiotics work?

A

Antibiotics kill bacterial pathogens inside the body, but don’t kill human cells. Whilst some antibiotics kill a wide range of bacteria, it is important that the right antibiotic is used for specific bacteria

36
Q

Why can antibiotics not be used to treat viral diseases?

A

Antibiotics have no effect on viral pathogens as they live inside the host’s (human) cells. Therefore, it is difficult to design drugs that would kill the virus and not destroy human cells at the same time.

37
Q

What is antibiotic resistance?

A

Antibiotic resistance occurs when mutations lead to individual bacteria being resistant to an antibiotic. These bacteria are able to survive, reproduce and pass on their alleles, leading to a greater proportion of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This is concerning as some types of bacteria are becoming resistant to all known antibiotics, so the diseases that they cause cannot be cured.

38
Q

How can we prevent antibiotic resistance?

A

Avoid overuse and unnecessary use of antibiotics
finish antibiotic courses to ensure all bacteria is killed

39
Q

What effect do painkillers have on infectious diseases?

A

Painkillers can only treat the symptoms but don’t kill pathogens

40
Q

What plant is the heart drug digitalis extracted from?

A

Foxgloves

41
Q

What painkiller originates from a compound found in willow bark?

A

Aspirin

42
Q

What antibiotic was discovered by Alexander Fleming from a type of mould?

A

Penicillin

43
Q

What are the four qualities of a good medicine?

A

Effective
Safe
Stable
Able to be taken in and removed easily

44
Q

What three main factors are tested for when developing new drugs>

A

Toxicity
Efficacy
Dose

45
Q

How is preclinical testing carried out?

A

In a laboratory- uses cells, tissues and live animals

46
Q

How is clinical testing carried out?

A

Uses healthy volunteers and patients. Firstly, the drug is tested at a low dose on healthy people- then tested on patients and on a larger scale to find the optimum dose. Often, a group receive a placebo and the other group receive the actual drug, in order to assess its efficacy

47
Q

What is the difference between a single-blind and a double-blind trial?

A

In a single-blind trial, only the doctor knows wether the patient is receiving the drug or a placebo. In a double-blind trial, neither the patient nor the doctor knows. Double-blind trials help remove bias on the part of the doctor.

48
Q

What is peer review?

A

Where the result of drug trials are checked over by scientists knowledgeable in this field.

Biology (24 decks)

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