Types of pathogens

• Communicable diseases

  Diseases that can spread between organisms
• Pathogens

  Microorganisms that can invade and harm the body
• Types of pathogens

  • Bacteria
  • Viruses
  • Protists
  • Fungi
• Bacteria

  • Very small living cells that can reproduce rapidly inside your body
  • Can cause illness by producing poisons called toxins
• Viruses

  • Much smaller than bacteria, not cells
  • Invade and reproduce inside body cells
  • Once the cell is full of viruses, it bursts and releases them to attack other cells
  • The damage to your cells during this process can make you feel unwell
• Protists

  • single-celled eukaryotes that can live as parasites
  • means they may live on or inside other organisms and can cause harm
  • Often transferred to the host by a vector,
• Fungi

  • Can be single-celled or multi-celled
  • Multi-celled fungi have a body made of hyphae (Structures that can cause infections by penetrating human skin or plant surfaces)
  • Hyphae can produce spores which aid in their spread to other plants and animals