Infections

• Measles Virus is spread through droplets from sneezes and coughs and can be fatal.
• HIV Virus is spread through sexual contact and needle exchange, damaging some white blood cells.
• Tobacco Mosaic Virus is spread through virus transmission and causes mottling of leaves, reducing photosynthesis.
• Salmonella Bacteria is spread through infected food, causing fever, abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, and vomiting.
• Gonorrhoea Bacteria is spread through sexual contact, causing a discharge from the penis or vagina and pain when urinating.
• Rose Black Spot Fungus is spread through spores carried by water or wind, causing black or purple spots on leaves.
• Malaria Protist is spread through a vector, the mosquito, causing fever and can be fatal.
• Pathogen is a microorganism that causes disease.
• Bacteria is a type of pathogen that produces toxins that damage tissues.
• Viruses are a type of pathogen that lives and reproduces inside cells and causes cell damage.
• Antibodies are produced by some white blood cells (lymphocytes) and bind to pathogens, destroying them or sticking them together.
• Antitoxins are produced by some white blood cells (lymphocytes) and neutralise toxins.
• Antibiotics kill bacteria and specific antibiotics should be used for specific bacteria.
• Painkillers relieve symptoms but don’t kill pathogens.
• Phagocytosis is a process where some white blood cells (lymphoc ) engulf pathogens.
• Nose contains hairs and mucus to trap pathogens.
• Trachea and Bronchi produce mucus to trap pathogens and contain cilia to move mucus for swallowing.
• Stomach contains hydrochloric acid to destroy pathogens.
• Skin is a physical barrier to pathogens.
• Preclinical trials test for toxicity and efficacy before testing humans.
• Healthy volunteers are used in very low doses to test for toxicity.
• Patients are used in larger groups to test for toxicity, efficacy, and dose.
• Placebo is a drug with no active ingredients, designed to mimic a real drug.
• Double-blind trial is a trial where the doctors and the volunteers do not know which group they are in, until the end of the trial.
• Toxicity refers to how harmful the drug is and may have dangerous side effects.
• Efficacy refers to how effective the drug is.
• Dose refers to the amount of the drug given to the patient.