Infectious Diseases Overview

Infectious Diseases

• AIDS: Caused by HIV; attacks the immune system, allowing opportunistic infections and malignancies.
• Common Cold: Mild viral infection affecting the nose and respiratory passages.
• Dengue Fever: Mosquito-borne tropical disease; symptoms include rash and severe joint pain.
• Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever: Severe, often fatal disease caused by the Ebola virus; affects humans and nonhuman primates.
• Herpes: Viral infection causing painful blisters mainly in the mouth, nose, or genitals.
• Influenza: Highly contagious viral respiratory infection, prevalent during colder months.
• Measles: Acute viral disease characterized by red spots and rash; highly contagious.
• Mumps: Viral disease resulting in swollen parotid glands, affecting salivary function.
• Mononucleosis: Characterized by fever and swollen lymph nodes; elevated mononuclear leukocytes in the blood.
• Polio: Viral infection causing nerve cell inflammation; can lead to paralysis.
• Rabies: Transmitted through animal bites; neurological symptoms like hydrophobia occur.
• Smallpox: Disease marked by rash, fever, and potential death from internal organ infection.
• Viral Encephalitis: Caused by mosquito bites; symptoms include fever and neurological complications.
• Viral Pneumonia: Generally mild pneumonia; more severe in children without increased white blood cell count.
• West Nile Fever: Mosquito-transmitted; symptoms include fever and nausea; no specific treatment.
• Yellow Fever: Flavivirus infection; transmitted by mosquitoes; symptoms include headaches and fever.

Protozoa Types

• Sporozoa: Animal-like protozoa; include Plasmodium (malaria); spore-formers.
• Sarcomastigophora: Animal-like protozoa; divided into mastigophora and sarcodina.
• Sarcodina: Characterized by pseudopods for movement; includes rhizopoda.
• Mastigophora: Flagellated protozoans; also known as zooflagellates.
• Ciliophora: Uses cilia for movement; complex structure with multiple nuclei.

Algae Classification

• Chlorophycophyta: Green algae, some have flagella and are motile.
• Chrysophycophyta: Golden brown algae; includes diatoms with silica shells.
• Phaeophycophyta: Brown algae; includes large multicellular forms like kelp.
• Rhodophycophyta: Red algae; important for coral reef formation.
• Pyrrophycophyta: Fire algae; responsible for red tides and bioluminescence.
• Euglenophycophyta: Euglenoids; exhibit both plant-like and animal-like characteristics.

Fungal and Other Protists

• Myxomycetes: Slime molds; previously classified as fungi.
• Oomycetes: Water molds and plant parasites, obtain nutrients mainly as decomposers.

Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukaryota

• Bacteria: Prokaryotic microorganisms; lack nucleus and membrane-bound organelles; typically one circular chromosome.
• Archaea: Similar to bacteria, but more closely related to eukaryotes; also lack nucleus.
• Eukaryota: Cells with a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles; contain multiple linear chromosomes.

Cell Structure and Genetic Information

• Nucleus: Membrane-enclosed organelle in eukaryotic cells; control center containing genetic material.
• Mitochondria: Organelles that generate energy in eukaryotic cells.
• Chloroplasts: Organelles in plant cells responsible for photosynthesis; contain chlorophyll.

Microscopy Techniques

• Optical Microscope: Enlarges images using one or two lenses.
• Electron Microscopes: Uses electron waves for high-resolution imaging; includes scanning and transmission types.
• Scanning Probe Microscope: Measures interaction between a probe and sample surface.

General Characteristics

• Bacteria and Archaea: Do not have a nucleus; absence of membrane-bound organelles.
• Eukaryota: Have a nucleus; possess membrane-bound organelles.

Additional Concepts

• Prion: Infectious agent made primarily of protein.
• Virus: Small infectious agent that replicates only inside living cells.
• Chicken Pox: Highly contagious viral infection caused by varicella zoster virus, transmitted via respiratory secretions or rash contact.

Test your knowledge on various infectious diseases including AIDS, Ebola, and Influenza. This quiz covers symptoms, causes, and characteristics of each disease, providing an overview of how they impact health worldwide. Perfect for those studying medicine or health sciences.