types of pathogens

Question 1

What is a bacteria

Answer 1

unicellular and prokaryotic

Question 2

what is an example of a disease caused by bacteria

Answer 2

meningococcal meningitis

Question 3

What is the key disease mechanism of bacteria

Answer 3

They release toxins and damage host tissue

Question 4

How does the meningococcal meningitis pathogen infect a host

Answer 4

it infects the membrane of the spinal cord and brain.

Question 5

what are the effects of meningococcal meningitis

Answer 5

it causes severe brain damage and a reddish brown rash

Question 6

what are fungi

Answer 6

eukaryotic and non-photosynthetic

Question 7

what is an example of a disease caused by fungi

Answer 7

Oral thrush

Question 8

what is the key disease mechanism for fungi

Answer 8

they secrete enzymes / chemicals to surroundings to break down organic matter. They absorb nutrients

Question 9

How does the oral thrush pathogen infect a host

Answer 9

affects the mucous membrane, after good bacteria is killed by antibiotics, the fungi flourishes

Question 10

what are the effects of oral thrush

Answer 10

white/yellow patches on tongue and a bad taste in the mouth

Question 11

what are protists

Answer 11

eukaryotic and unicellular

Question 12

what is an example of a disease caused by protists

Answer 12

malaria

Question 13

How does the malaria pathogen infect a host

Answer 13

floats freely in blood, attacks red blood cells.

Question 14

what are the effects of malaria

Answer 14

muscle pain , weakness and jaundice

Question 15

what are macroscopic parasites

Answer 15

multicellular organisms that can be seen

Question 16

what is the key disease mechanism for macro-parasites

Answer 16

they compete for nutrients with the host and produce toxins that damage tissue

Question 17

what is an example of a macroscopic parasite

Answer 17

ticks

Question 18

how do ticks infect a host

Answer 18

they secrete a neurotoxin that causes weakness and paralysis. Suck human blood for nutrients

Question 19

what are the effects of ticks

Answer 19

respiratory failure and death

Question 20

what are viruses

Answer 20

non-cellular pathogens
- they have a single type of nucleic acid DNA/RNA which is encased in a protein coat (capsid)

Question 21

what is the key disease mechanism for viruses

Answer 21

attach to and penetrate a host cell. Hijack enzymes and nutrients to make vital proteins and nucleic acid which is then assembled into a new virus and released from the host cell

Question 22

what is an example of a virus

Answer 22

measles

Question 23

what are the effects of measles

Answer 23

rash and fever

Question 24

what is a prion

Answer 24

non-cellular and infectious protein

Question 25

what is the key disease mechanism for prions

Answer 25

abnormally folded protein causes severe problems depending on structure, function and location. This visually affects brain tissue

Question 26

what is an example of a prion

Answer 26

Creutzfeldt - Jakob disease
- ‘mad cow’ disease

Question 27

what are the effects of mad cow disease

Answer 27

behavioural changes, dementia and neurological deterioration (tissue degeneration)