B6 preventing and treating disease

• What is an antibiotic?

  A drug that kills bacteria but not viruses
• What is an antibody?

  A protein that targets specific pathogens
• What is an antigen?

  Proteins on the surface of a pathogen
• What is an antitoxin?

  Neutralizes toxins produced by pathogens
• What is a dose?

  The amount of drug given to a patient
• What is a double-blind trial?

  Neither patients nor doctors know treatment
• What does efficacy refer to?

  How well a drug works
• What is herd immunity?

  When most of a population is vaccinated
• What are monoclonal antibodies?

  Antibodies produced by a single clone of cells
• What is mucus?

  A substance that traps particles in the air
• What is peer review?

  Independent researchers check trial results
• What is a placebo?

  Medicine with no effect given in trials
• What is toxicity?

  Is it harmful to the body?
• What is vaccination?

  Injecting inactive forms of pathogens
• What is the function of white blood cells?

  To fight pathogens in the body
• How does skin act as a non-specific defense?

  It acts as a physical barrier to infection
• How does stomach acid protect against pathogens?

  It destroys pathogens in food and drinks
• What role do cilia play in the respiratory system?

  They trap particles and prevent lung entry
• What happens during phagocytosis?

  Phagocyte engulfs and digests a pathogen
• Why are antibodies specific to pathogens?

  They must match the pathogen's unique antigens
• How do antitoxins function?

  They bind to and neutralize pathogen toxins
• What is the purpose of a vaccine?

  To stimulate antibody production against pathogens
• How does herd immunity work?

  It reduces disease spread by population vaccination
• What are the stages of clinical trials?

  Testing for toxicity, efficacy, and optimum dose
• What occurs during pre-clinical trials?

  Drugs are tested on cells, tissues, and animals
• What is the significance of double-blind trials?

  They reduce bias by keeping treatment unknown
• How do monoclonal antibodies differ from regular antibodies?

  They are produced by a single clone of cells
• How can monoclonal antibodies be used in medicine?

  To treat cancer and in pregnancy tests
• What are the non-specific defenses of the human body against pathogens?

  • Skin: physical barrier, antimicrobial secretions
  • Stomach: strong acid (pH 2) destroys pathogens
  • Nose: cilia and mucus trap particles
  • Trachea and bronchi: produce mucus, moved by cilia
• What are the functions of white blood cells?

  1. Phagocytosis: engulfing and digesting pathogens
  2. Producing antibodies: targeting specific pathogens
  3. Producing antitoxins: neutralizing toxins from pathogens
• What are the stages of drug testing in clinical trials?

  1. Pre-clinical trials: testing on cells, tissues, animals
  2. Clinical trials: testing on healthy volunteers, then patients
  3. Peer review: independent researchers check results
• What is the process of vaccination?

  • Injecting small quantities of dead/inactive pathogens
  • Stimulates lymphocytes to produce antibodies
  • Prepares the immune system for future infections
• What are the uses of antibiotics?

  • Kill specific bacteria in the body
  • Reduce deaths from infectious bacterial diseases
  • Not effective against viruses
• What are the limitations of antibiotics?

  • Specific bacteria require specific antibiotics
  • Antibiotic-resistant strains are emerging
  • Do not affect viral infections