Viral fungal and protist diseases

• What is measles?

  A viral disease spread by droplets from an infected persons cough or sneeze. People with measles develop a red skin rash, and they’ll show signs of a fever.
• What can measles sometimes lead to?

  It can be very serious or even fatal, if there are complications, lead to pneumonia ( a lung infection) or inflammation of the brain.
• Most people are vaccinated against measles when they’re young.
• How is HIV spread?

  By sexual contact, or by exchanging bodily fluids (blood). This can happen when people share needles when taking drugs.
• What does HIV cause ?

  Flu like symptoms for a few weeks. During this time, HIV can be controlled with antiretroviral drugs. These stop the virus replicating in the body.
• The HIV virus attacks the immune cells.
• What happens if the body’s immune system is badly damaged due to HIV?

  It can’t cope with other infections or cancers, at this stage known as AIDS or late stage HIV infection.
• What is tobacco mosaic virus?

  A virus that affects many species of plants, e.g tomatoes. It causes a mosaic pattern on the leaves - parts of the leaves become discoloured.
• What does the discolouration mean in TMV?

  The plant can’t carry out photosynthesis as well, so the virus affects growth.
• What is rose black spot?

  A fungus that causes purple or black

  spots to develop on the leaves of rose plants. The leaves can then turn yellow and drop off.
• What effect do the yellow leaves have?

  Less photosynthesis can happen so the plant doesn’t grow very well.
• How does RBS spread?

  Through the environment in water or by the wind.
• How do gardeners treat rose black spots?

  Using fungicides and by stripping the plant of its affected leaves. The leaves then need to be destroyed so that fungus can’t spread.
• What is malaria caused by?

  A protist.
• Why are mosquitoes responsible for malaria?

  They‘re vectors which pick up the malarial protist when they feed on an infected animal. Every time it feeds on another animal it infects it.
• What does malaria cause?

  Repeating episodes of fever. It can be fatal.
• How can the spread of malaria be reduced?

  By stopping the mosquitoes from breeding. People can be protected from them using insecticides and mosquito nets.