infection and response

• What are pathogens?

  Microorganisms that cause infectious diseases
• What types of microorganisms are classified as pathogens?

  Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protists
• What is a characteristic of bacteria?

  They are small, single-celled organisms that release toxins
• Name two examples of diseases caused by bacteria.

  Salmonella and tuberculosis
• How do viruses reproduce?

  They can only reproduce inside host cells
• What are two examples of viral diseases?

  Influenza and HIV
• What types of organisms can fungi be?

  They can be single-celled or multicellular organisms
• What is an example of a disease caused by fungi?

  Athlete’s foot
• How are protists typically transmitted?

  Often transmitted by vectors, such as mosquitoes
• What is an example of a disease caused by protists?

  Malaria
• What are the main ways diseases spread?

  • Direct Contact: Physical contact with infected surfaces
  • Water and Food: Consuming contaminated items
  • Airborne Transmission: Droplets from coughs and sneezes
  • Vectors: Organisms like mosquitoes carrying pathogens
• What methods can be used to prevent and reduce the spread of infectious diseases?

  • Hygiene: Regular handwashing and disinfecting
  • Isolation of Infected Individuals: Prevents spread
  • Vaccination: Stimulates antibody production
  • Vector Control: Reducing vector populations
• What is the role of skin in the human defense system?

  Acts as a physical barrier and has antimicrobial properties
• How do mucus and cilia in the respiratory tract help defend against pathogens?

  They trap and remove pathogens
• What is the function of stomach acid in the immune system?

  Destroys pathogens that are swallowed
• What role do white blood cells play in the immune response?

  They engulf pathogens, produce antibodies, and produce antitoxins
• What is phagocytosis?

  Engulfing and digesting pathogens
• What is the purpose of vaccination?

  To stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies
• What do vaccines contain?

  Dead or weakened forms of pathogens
• How does vaccination prepare the immune system for future infections?

  Enables a faster response if exposed to the actual pathogen
• What are antibiotics?

  Medicines that kill bacteria or stop their growth
• Why do antibiotics not work against viral infections?

  Because they specifically target bacteria
• What is a painkiller used for?

  To relieve symptoms like pain or fever
• What are the steps in the discovery and development of drugs?

  • Traditional Medicines: Derived from plants (e.g., aspirin from willow bark)
  • Modern Drug Development: Screening for potential drugs
  • Testing: Preclinical testing on cells and animals, followed by clinical trials on humans
• What are monoclonal antibodies?

  Artificially produced antibodies that target specific cells or proteins
• How are monoclonal antibodies produced?

  By stimulating mouse cells to produce a specific antibody and combining them with tumor cells
• What are some applications of monoclonal antibodies?

  Used in cancer treatment, diagnostics, and pregnancy tests
• lymphocytes produce antibodies to fight off pathogens
• white blood cells are produced by the bone marrow
• the immune system is made up of white blood cells, antibodies, lymph nodes, spleen, thymus gland
• antibodies mark pathogens for destruction by phagocytes
• antibodies activate complement system which destroys pathogens
• antibodies bind to antigens on pathogen surfaces
• neutrophils destroy bacteria through phagocytosis
• complement proteins bind to antigens on pathogen surface causing it to burst
• macrophages engulf bacteria and other foreign particles
• neutrophils are small phagocytes found in the bloodstream
• 1. cells are responsible for cell mediated immunity
• macrophages are large phagocytes found in tissues throughout the body
• antibodies bind to antigens on the surface of pathogens and mark them as foreign so they can be destroyed by other parts of the immune system