Unit 2 - Topic 15 - Microorganisms, Defence Against Disease, Medicine and Drugs Flashcards
What are the three main types of microbe?
Bacteria
Viruses
Fungi
What is a pathogen?
A disease causing micro-organism.
Who disproved the theory of spontaneous generation?
Louis Pasteur
What experiment did Pasteur carry out to disprove the spontaneous generation theory?
Swan neck experiment
What did the theory of spontaneous generation propose?
Spontaneous generation theory assumed that micro-organisms spontaneously appeared from non-living material.
Describe the apparatus used in Pasteur’s swan neck experiment and the results he obtained.
- Sterilised broth was placed into a number of sterilised flasks.
- Some had ‘swan neck’ openings, and others had the neck removed (controlled variable).
- The broth was left for a few weeks, but the broth in the ‘swan neck’ flasks was not contaminated.
- The broth in the open flasks was contaminated.
Conclusion
- Microbes were trapped in the ‘swan neck’ and could not reach the broth, but microbes could gain entry in the open flask.
Therefore, microbes could only contaminate fluids and solid foods if they were already present or could gain access to the samples.
What were the controlled variables in Pasteur’s ‘swan neck’ experiment?
- Type of broth used
- Temperature
- Time
- Volume of broth
What is pasteurisation?
This is a technique to reduce contamination of milk and other products.
- The milk is heated to a high temperature, but below boiling point.
- It is then rapidly chilled to a low temperature.
- Pasteurisation kills most bacteria present.
Give an example of a virus
- HIV –> AIDS
- Rubella
- Measles
- Mumps
- Colds and flu
- Polio
Give an example of a bacterium
- Salmonella food poisoning
- Gonorrhoea
- Tuberculosis
- Chlamydia
Give an example of a fungus
• Athlete’s foot
How do antibodies aid in the defence against disease?
- Stop the pathogen spreading (immobilisation).
- Stops the pathogen from reproducing.
- Easier for phagocytosis (clumped together).
What type of microbe is HIV, how is it spread and how is it controlled/prevented/treated?
Type
- Virus
Spread
- Exchange of body fluids during sex
- Infected blood
Control/prevention/treatment
- Using a condom
- Drug addicts not sharing needles
- No cure
What type of microbe is Rubella, how is it spread and how is it controlled/prevented/treated?
Type
- Virus
Spread
- Airborne (droplet infection) through coughing and sneezing
Control/prevention/treatment
- Prevented by MMR vaccination
What type of microbe is Measles, how is it spread and how is it controlled/prevented/treated?
Type
- Virus
Spread
- Airborne (droplet infection) through coughing and sneezing
- Contact
Control/prevented/treatment
- Prevented by MMR vaccination
What type of microbe is Mumps, how is it spread and how is it controlled/prevented/treated?
Type
- Virus
Spread
- Airborne (droplet infection) through coughing and sneezing
Control/prevention/treatment
- Prevented by MRR vaccination
What type of microbe are Colds and flu, how are they spread and how are they controlled/prevented/treated?
Type
- Virus
Spread
- Airborne (droplet infection) through coughing and sneezing
Control/prevention/treatment
- Flu vaccination for targeted groups
What type of microbe is Polio, how is it spread and how is it controlled/prevented/treated?
Type
- Virus
Spread
- Usually spread through drinking water contaminated with faeces
Control/prevention/treatment
- The Polio vaccination has currently eradicated Polio in the UK