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LGS A-Level OCR Biology - Unit 4 - Communicable Disease, Disease Prevention and the Immune System Part 1

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This flashcard deck covers key concepts from the OCR Biology curriculum on communicable diseases, including the types of pathogens, how they cause disease, and modes of transmission.

Describe what a pathogen is.

Microorganism that causes disease, Lives in hosts
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Key Terms

Term
Definition
Describe what a pathogen is.
Microorganism that causes disease, Lives in hosts
Communicable diseases
Any disease transmitted from one person or animal; contagious
4 groups of microorganisms
Bacteria, Fungi, Viruses, Protoctista
Diseases caused by bacteria
Tuberculosis, Bacterial meningitis, Ring rot in plants
Diseases caused by viruses
HIV/ AIDS, Influenza, Tobacco mosaic virus
Diseases caused by fungi
Black sigatoka, Ringworm, Athletes foot

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TermDefinition
Describe what a pathogen is.
Microorganism that causes disease, Lives in hosts
Communicable diseases
Any disease transmitted from one person or animal; contagious
4 groups of microorganisms
Bacteria, Fungi, Viruses, Protoctista
Diseases caused by bacteria
Tuberculosis, Bacterial meningitis, Ring rot in plants
Diseases caused by viruses
HIV/ AIDS, Influenza, Tobacco mosaic virus
Diseases caused by fungi
Black sigatoka, Ringworm, Athletes foot
Diseases caused by protoctista
Malaria, Potato/ tomato blight
Prokaryotic pathogens
Bacteria
Eukaryotic pathogens
Fungi
How do bacteria damage hosts
Multiply rapidly, Damage cells by releasing waste products and/or toxins
How do fungi damage hosts
Hyphae release extracellular enzymes e.g. celluloses to digest plant tissue, Causes decay and leaf death —> no photosynthesis, May produce toxins
Are viruses eukaryotic or prokaryotic
Neither; they’re dead
How do viruses damage hosts
Invade living cells where genetic material in virus takes over the biochemistry of the host cells Makes more copies; Host cell bursts, releasing viruses
Bacteriophages
Viruses that can attack bacteria
How do protoctista damage hosts
Enter host cells and feed on contents before breaking over cells
How may protoctista enter through the body directly
Polluted water
Transmission
Passing a pathogen from an infected individual to an uninflected individual
Direct transmission
Passing a pathogen from host to new host, with no intermediary
Types of direct transmission
Physical contact; Faecal - oral transmission; Droplet infection; Transmission by spores
Physical contact
Touching an infected person; Touching contaminated surfaces; Exchanging bodily fluids
Faecal - oral transmission
Eating food or drinking water contaminated by pathogen
Droplet infection
Pathogens are carried in tiny water droplets in the air
Transmission by spores
Spores are the resistant stage of some pathogens; Can be carried in the air or reside on surfaces or in the soil
Indirect transmission
Pathogens are transmitted indirectly via a vector
Vector
Another organism that may be used by the pathogen to gain entry to the primary host