6.5-6.6 (pathogens + controlling endemics)

Cards (19)

  • Influenza virus - transmission
    air droplets
  • influenza virus - mode of infection
    • injected viral RNA into epithelial cell
    • takes over cell metabolism
    • produces virions
    • viruses assemble
    • cells lyse and release virions
  • influenza virus - pathogenic effect

    • headache
    • sore throat
    • vomiting
  • stem rust fungus - transmission
    • wind dispersed spores
    • host crops
  • stem rust function - mode of infection
    • water causes spores to germinate
    • hyphae produced
    • which enter through stomata
    • enzyme digest plant cell
  • stem rust fungus - pathogenic effects
    • loss of nutrients
    • weakened stem
    • pustules on the epidermis
  • what is the malarial parasite?
    • plasmodium spp
  • malaria parasite - transmission
    • enters in saliva
    • of female anophele mosquito
    • as a vector during feeding
  • malaria parasite - mode of infection
    • parasite enters red blood cell
    • burst and release more parasites
    • enters liver cells
    • rapid asexual reproduction
  • malaria parasite - pathogenic effects
    • fever, sweating
    • headache
    • liver damage
  • how is malaria controlled?
    • reduces number of mosquitos
    • reduces chance of being bitten
    • using drugs to prevent plasmodium infecting
  • methods of controlling malaria
    • drain wetland where mosquito breed
    • spray with insecticides to kill
    • bed nets
    • release sterilised male mosquitos
  • issues with draining wetland?
    • not possible for lakes that are used for food + income
    • large lakes span multiple countries (need approval)
    • impossible to control all breeding sites
  • issue with spraying insecticides?

    chemicals harm the beneficial insects too.
  • issue with using bed nets?
    • some mosquitos bite during day too.
    • some cultures not used to it
  • issue with using preventative drugs?

    • resulted in drug resistant strains
    • expensive
    • side effects
  • advances in controlling malaria
    • dipstick tests for diagnosis. does not require a lab
    • plasmodium genome has been sequenced. helps vaccine development
  • issues when considering vaccines?
    • safety
    • hard to gain informed consent
    • money spent developing could be spent on prevention
  • what is the role of the scientific community?
    • provides guidelines
    • develops and tests treatments
    • develop accurate diagnostic tools