Topic 3 - Infection and Response Flashcards
What is a pathogen?
Pathogens are microorganisms that enter the body and cause disease. They cause communicable (infectious) diseases - diseases that can be spread. Both plants and animals can be infected by pathogens.
8 key facts about Bacteria
- Prokaryotes
- Single celled organisms
- Don’t have a true nucleus, but a circular strand of DNA
- Do not contain mitochondria
- Have a tail, known as a flagella, to help it move
- Produce toxins that damage cells and tissues
- Living cells
- Largest bacteria are 10 micrometers long
6 Key facts about Viruses
- Not cells
- Much smaller than bacteria
- Reproduce rapidly inside host cells
- Viruses consist of genetic material and a protein coat
- Once inside a cell, viruses can make thousands of copies of itself, this continues until the host cell bursts open
- Cell damage is what makes humans feel unwell
4 Key facts about Protists
- eukaryotes
- single celled organisms
- can be parasitic, means they live on or in side another organism causing harm
- can be animal like, plant like, or fungi like
6 Key facts about Fungi
- single celled fungus => yeast
- multicellular fungus => toadstools, mushrooms, and mould
- cell walls are made from chitin
- use saprotrophic nutrition, they secrete enzymes to digest food and then absorb it
- threadlike structures called hyphae
- hyphae can produce spores, enabling the fungus to be easily spread
What 4 ways are pathogens spread?
- Water
- Air
- Direct Contact
- Indirect contact
How are measles transmitted?
Spread through droplets from an infected persons cough.
What are the symptoms of measles?
Red skin rash, signs of a fever
What causes measles?
a virus
How do you treat/prevent measles?
Vaccinations at a young age.
How is Rose Black Spot transmitted?
Spreads through the environment in water or by the wind.
What are the symptoms of Rose Black Spot?
Causes purple/black spots to develop on the leaves, which can then turn yellow and drop off.
What causes Rose Black Spot?
a fungus
How can Rose Black Spot be treated/prevented?
Can treat the plant by using fungicides, and by stripping the plant of affected leaves and burning them because of spores.
How is Malaria transmitted?
Mosquitos pick up the malaria protist when they feed on infected animals - every time it feeds on another animal, it infects it by inserting the protist into the animals blood vessels.
What are the symptoms of Malaria?
Repeating episodes of fever
What is the cause of Malaria?
a protist
How can Malaria be treated/prevented?
Spread can be reduced by stopping mosquitos from breeding, people can also be protected from bites.
How is Tobacco Mosaic transmitted?
By contact between plants
What are the symptoms for Tobacco Mosaic?
Causes a mosaic pattern on the leaves of the plant, parts of the leaves become discoloured.
What causes Tobacco Mosaic?
a virus
How can Tobacco Mosaic be treated/prevented?
Dig up and destroy infected plants.
How is Salmonella transmitted?
Can get it by eating food that’s been contaminated with salmonella bacteria.
What are the symptoms of Salmonella?
Fever, stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea
What causes Salmonella?
a bacteria
How can Salmonella be treated/prevented?
In the Uk most poultry are given vaccinations, stopping the spread of bacteria and people from getting the disease.
How is Gonorrhoea transmitted?
Sexual contact, e.g. unprotected sex
What are the symptoms of Gonorrhoea?
Pain while urinating, thick yellow/green discharge from penis or vagina.