Pathogens and Infectious Disease

Suggested Responses
Comprehension Table

Pathogen Brief Description Transmission/ How does the Infectious Treatment

(Including what it is infection method: immune system disease methods
composed of): respond? examples:
Bacteria - Very common - Mostly reproduce - N/A Food Antibiotics e.g.
- Single - celled through binary poisoning Amoxicillin,
prokaryote: fission gastritis, Penicillin
genetic material - Release toxins meningitis,
not contained in harmful to host pneumonia,
cell membrane - Invade body, strep throat,
- Four main types reproduce and peptic ulcers,
based on shape: grow in tissues typhoid
bacilli (rod); Cocci
(spherical);
spirochaetes
(spiral); vibrio
(curved rod)

Viruses - Tiny particles - Enters a cell, - Produces Influenza Vaccines

- Replicate only nucleic acid pyrogens which AIDS, Ebola
inside living host inserted into host raise body
cells cell and produces temp slowing
- Composed of new virus cells down chemical
DNA/RNA and which are then reactions
protein coat used released and then (White blood
to recognise attack other host cells produce
suitable host cells cells antibodies to
- Transmitted easily stop virus
e.g. airborne, direct replication;
contact, bodily other cells
fluids detect and kill)
Fungi - Rigid cell wall, no - Produce - Immune Tinea, asthma Antifungal
chlorophyll and not microscopic system can and other creams, sprays
plants reproductive spores react to fungal allergenic and tablets
- Saprophytes – live that are spread spores through conditions
on dead organic through air, water, an allergic
matter direct contact reaction e.g.
- Parasites live on - Humans infected sneezing,
host tissue mostly on skin, coughing
- Long, fine, nails, hair
branching hyphae
form mycelium
web
Protozoa - Single-celled - Cyst stage - N/A - Malaria Malaria –
eukaryote – (dormant) infect (caused by antibiotics and
genetic material humans plasmodium), sulphur
contained in cell - Trophozoite stage sleeping medications
membrane (active, feeding, sickness,
- Get food from reproducing) amoebic
environment disease develops dysentery
including water, - Plasmodia spread
soil and human by anopheles like
body mosquitoes,
reproduces in RBC
and released into
bloodstream

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 Pathogens and Infectious Disease
Suggested Responses
Prions - Most recently - Pathogen prions - No immune - Creutzfeldt- - No treatment
discovered infect lining of response as Jakob Disease
- No nucleic acids neural cells which prions resemble (CJD or mad
- Composed of a are destroyed proteins normally cow disease)
protein in cell and lead to the found in the body
membrane infection of others
- Distorted shape
which induces
distortion of normal
proteins
- Visible to naked - Mostly live in - High - Roundworm - Some
Macro eye human gut. Lay temperature infections medications to
parasites - e.g. Helminths – eggs that pass in sometimes treat infection
intestinal worms; faeces to the develops - Preventative
nematodes – environment, measures e.g.
roundworms; eggs develop improved
arthropods – ticks, into larvae and sanitation,
spiders reinfect humans education,
- Live and grow through food. living conditions
inside host; Move into the
reproduce outside bloodstream and
host are transported
around body
often back to gut
where adults
continue the
cycle.

Quiz

Statement Term
1. The most recently discovered and possibly the smallest pathogen, which cause normal Prions
proteins to adopt its abnormal shape

2. Typhoid, tetanus, cholera, and gastroenteritis are all caused by Bacteria

3. Infection with macroparasites can be reduced by Improved

sanitation
4. A microbe composed of genetic material and protein that cannot replicate by itself Virus

5. Can be used against bacterial infections Antibiotics

6. Cause infections on the body’s surface and sometimes internally, but many have a Fungi
useful function

7. An example of a pathogen that is visible to the naked eye and may complete part of Helminths
its life cycle in the human body

8. Can be used to fight viruses Vaccines

9. A biological agent that causes diseases Pathogen

10. Large, single-celled organisms which often have a cyst stage to protect them during Protozoa
their time between hosts

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 Pathogens and Infectious Disease
Suggested Responses
Bacteria and Virus Flow Diagrams
a. Bacteria

Single-celled
prokaryotic
pathogen enters
host cell

Organism comes into Pathogenic cell

contact with pathogen grows and
via contaminated reproduces through
water/food, bodily fluids, binary fission
atmosphere or direct
contact

Toxins transported As pathogen

around the host grows, toxins may
cause ill health be produced

b. Virus
Pathogenic
cell attaches to
host's cell
membrane.

Pathogen
released into Nucleic acid
atmosphere by of pathogen
mucous droplets - inserted into
other organisms host cell
infected

Pathogenic cell
Host cell ruptures replicates by inducing
and infection spreads host cell to produce
through organism new copies.

Pathogens at the Movies – no answers provided

Labelling Cells – no answers provided

Transcript – for teacher and student reference

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