microbes as pathogens

• What are the three types of microbes discussed as pathogens?

  Bacteria, fungi, and parasites
• What is a pathogen?

  An organism causing disease in a host
• What does pathogenicity refer to?

  Ability to cause disease
• What is virulence?

  Measure of disease-causing potential
• What is a virulence factor?

  Substance contributing to virulence
• What are the characteristics of bacteria?

  Unicellular, microscopic organisms
• What beneficial roles do bacteria play?

  Nitrogen fixation, vitamin production
• What harmful roles do bacteria have?

  Degradation of materials and food spoilage
• What is the mnemonic for classifying bacteria?

  • King
  • Peter
  • Caught
  • Obesity
  • From
  • Gobbling
  • Sticky
  • Sweets
• What are acute infections?

  Rapid onset, severe symptoms, short-lived
• What are chronic infections?

  Slow progression, long-lasting
• What are latent infections?

  Pathogen present but inactive
• What does Staphylococcus aureus cause?

  Food poisoning and pneumonia
• What does Streptococcus pyogenes cause?

  Pharyngitis and scarlet fever
• What are the characteristics of fungi?

  Eukaryotic organisms with a nucleus
• Why are fungi essential in ecosystems?

  Nutrient cycling and organic matter degradation
• What is the industrial importance of fungi?

  Enzyme and ethanol production
• What type of infections do most pathogenic fungi cause?

  Opportunistic infections in compromised hosts
• What are the types of fungal infections?

  Superficial, cutaneous, subcutaneous, systemic
• How are fungal infections transmitted?

  Human to human, zoonotic, environmental contact
• What is a parasite?

  Eukaryotic organism benefiting from a host
• What are ectoparasites?

  Parasites living on host surface
• What are endoparasites?

  Parasites living inside the host
• What is a characteristic of parasite life cycles?

  Often complex with multiple stages
• What are the classifications of parasitic organisms?

  Protozoa, helminths, arthropods
• How do parasites damage hosts?

  Direct tissue destruction and inflammatory responses
• What is malaria caused by?

  Plasmodium species
• Which Plasmodium species is the most severe?

  1. falciparum
• How is malaria transmitted?

  By female Anopheles mosquitoes
• What are the stages of the malaria life cycle?

  Sporozoite, Trophozoite, Merozoite, Gametocyte
• What is the development time for filarial nematodes?

  About one year to develop
• What are the symptoms of lymphatic filariasis?

  Chronic inflammation and elephantiasis
• What is the impact of lymphatic filariasis worldwide?

  120 million infected, 1 billion at risk
• What is the primary vector for malaria?

  Mosquitoes
• What is the role of arthropods in parasitic diseases?

  Act as vectors for diseases
• How do host-parasite interactions lead to disease?

  Through tissue destruction and inflammatory responses
• How does the life cycle of Plasmodium differ from that of helminths?

  Plasmodium has a complex life cycle with mosquitoes
• What is the significance of understanding pathogenic microbes?

  Helps in disease prevention and treatment
• What is the role of virulence factors in pathogens?

  Contribute to the ability to cause disease
• How do opportunistic fungi differ from true pathogens?

  Opportunistic fungi infect compromised hosts