3.1.1

Spreading Disease

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Pathogens and Infections

Infections are caused whenever a foreign pathogen invades an organism (animal or plant). There are four main types of pathogen:

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Viruses

  • Viruses are tiny, non-living (do not contain cells) particles that can reproduce rapidly within the body.
  • They invade host cells and use them to make new virus particles.
  • Once the new viruses are made, they cause the cells to burst.
  • The cell damage makes us feel ill.
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Bacteria

  • Bacteria are small living cells that either damage cells directly or by producing toxins (poisons).
  • Bacteria can reproduce rapidly in the appropriate conditions: warm, moist areas with a good supply of oxygen.
  • The toxins released by bacteria can damage cells and tissues, making us feel ill.
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Fungi

  • Some fungi are single-celled organisms that have a body made up of hyphae (thread-like structures).
  • The hyphae are able to grow and penetrate tissues, such as human skin or the surface of plants.
  • The hyphae produce spores that can spread to other plants and animals.
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Protists

  • Protists are single-celled eukaryotic organisms (they have a nucleus).
  • Many are parasites, meaning that they live on or inside other organisms.
  • They are often transferred to the host organism by a vector, such as an insect or mosquito.
  • They make us feel ill by damaging our tissues.

Spreading Disease

There are three ways an infectious disease can spread:

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Direct contact

  • Some pathogens live on the surface of other organisms, such as the skin. If infected skin touches a surface, some of the pathogens can transfer from the infected skin to the surface.
  • The pathogen then spreads to other people who also touch that surface. Athlete's foot is spread in this way.
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Water

  • Some pathogens contaminate water supplies. Organisms drinking this contaminated water can be infected by pathogens.
  • Cholera is a disease spread in this way.
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Air

  • Some pathogens are released into the air inside droplets when an organism coughs or sneezes. These droplets can then be inhaled (breathed in) by other organisms.
  • The flu and common colds are spread in this way.

Preventing Infection Spread

The spread of infections can be prevented by being hygienic, by isolating infected individuals, by protecting against vectors and by vaccination.

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Hygiene

  • By being hygienic, we can destroy pathogens or wash them away so that they are not spread.
  • Using antibacterial products to clean surfaces, washing our hands and sneezing into a handkerchief are all hygienic measures to prevent the spread of infection.
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Isolation

  • By isolating infected individuals, we prevent contact with other organisms. This stops the infection from spreading.
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Disease vectors

  • Some protist diseases are carried by vectors.
  • A vector is an organism that carries pathogens without being infected.
    • For example, we can protect against mosquitos carrying malaria using mosquito nets.
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Vaccination

  • Vaccination can make people immune to (resistant to) infection.
  • The more individuals that are vaccinated, the less likely the disease is to spread.

Jump to other topics

1Cell Biology

2Organisation

2.1Principles of Organisation

2.2Enzymes

2.3Circulatory System

2.4Non-Communicable Diseases

2.5Plant Tissues, Organs & Systems

3Infection & Response

4Bioenergetics

5Homeostasis & Response

6Inheritance, Variation & Evolution

7Ecology

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