Pathogens and Communicable Diseases

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Questions and Answers

What is a key difference between the flu vaccine and the mRNA vaccine?

The flu vaccine contains irradiated virus, while the mRNA vaccine contains mRNA that prompts the body to create proteins. (correct)

Both vaccines contain live virus, but in different forms.

The flu vaccine contains live virus, while the mRNA vaccine contains killed virus.

The mRNA vaccine contains DNA, while the flu vaccine contains mRNA.

Why is it important for antibiotics to be specific?

To limit side effects in patients receiving antibiotics.

To prevent resistance in beneficial bacteria and cells. (correct)

To ensure they only kill harmful bacteria and not viruses.

To enhance their effectiveness against all types of infections.

What is a common method used in drug trials to assess effectiveness?

Double-blind trials where neither participants nor researchers know who receives the drug. (correct)

Single-blind trials where only the participants are unaware of what they are receiving.

Triple-blind trials where an additional party monitors the trial outcomes.

Open-label trials where all participants know what they are receiving.

What are hybridomas and their role in monoclonal antibody production?

Hybridomas arise from the combination of lymphocytes and tumor cells for antibody cloning. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What potential downside is associated with monoclonal antibodies?

They can cause side effects that may be more severe than anticipated. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of viruses that distinguishes them from other pathogens?

They contain genetic code in protein casings. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following diseases is caused by a fungal infection?

Athlete's foot (D) Signup and view all the answers

What role do lymphocytes play in the immune system?

They produce antitoxins and antibodies. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How does a vaccine help the immune system?

It allows the body to produce antibodies without infection. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which pathogen is specifically known to be transmitted through mosquito bites?

Malaria (B) Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the cell once it is infected by a virus?

It produces more copies of the virus and explodes. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the first barrier the body has against pathogens?

The skin (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of antibodies produced by lymphocytes?

To attach to antigens and prevent further infection. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Pathogens

Communicable diseases are caused by pathogens, which can be viruses, bacteria, fungi, or protists.
Protists are single-celled parasites.
All pathogens reproduce in the body, causing damage.
Viruses cannot reproduce on their own.
Viruses are protein casings containing genetic code that is injected into a host cell.
The cell produces more copies of the virus and then explodes, releasing the virus to infect more cells.

Examples of Diseases

Measles is caused by a virus.
Measles is spread by droplets from sneezing or coughing.
HIV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that compromises the immune system.
HIV is also known as AIDS.
HIV can also be spread by sharing needles.
Salmonella bacteria cause food poisoning, often found in undercooked food.
Gonorrhea is an STI caused by bacteria, causing a yellow discharge from the genitalia.
Athlete's foot is a fungal infection.
Malaria is caused by a protist that multiplies inside red blood cells, causing them to burst.
Malaria is spread by mosquitoes, which are vectors for the disease.
Rose black spot is a fungal infection of plants.
Tobacco mosaic virus affects plants by discoloring leaves and inhibiting chlorophyll production, causing stunted growth.

Immune System

The body protects itself from pathogens with multiple barriers.
Skin is the first barrier to pathogens entering the body.
Mucus, acid, and enzymes in the nose, trachea, and digestive system trap and destroy pathogens.
White blood cells combat pathogens that enter the bloodstream.
Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell.
Lymphocytes produce antitoxins to neutralize poisons released by pathogens.
Lymphocytes also produce antibodies, which attach to the antigen on a pathogen.
Antibodies stop pathogens from infecting more cells and cause them to clump together.
Phagocytes then ingest and destroy these clumped pathogens.
Each pathogen has a specific shaped antigen.
Only an antibody that matches the antigen shape can neutralize it.
If a pathogen is unknown to the immune system, lymphocytes produce antibodies of different shapes until one matches the antigen.
The immune system stores a copy of the antibody and the antigen to quickly react to that pathogen in the future.
This is called immunity.

Vaccines

A vaccine is a dead or inert version of a pathogen.
Vaccines expose the immune system to the pathogen so it can produce antibodies without becoming infected.
The flu vaccine contains irradiated virus, which cannot reproduce, but contains the antigen to stimulate the body's immune response.
The mRNA vaccine does not contain a virus, but instead mRNA that tricks the cell into synthesizing part of the virus, including the antigen.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics kill bacteria, but not viruses.
Penicillin was the first antibiotic.
Antibiotics need to be as specific as possible to avoid harming beneficial bacteria or body cells.
Bacteria mutate and can become resistant to antibiotics.
The more antibiotics are used, the less effective they become.

Drug Development

Drugs are synthesized, but were originally extracted from plants and organisms.
Aspirin is derived from willow trees.
Penicillin is derived from a mold.
Drug development is a major industry.
Drug trials are used to test effectiveness and side effects.
Lab trials are conducted on cell tissue.
Animal trials are conducted on live animals.
Human trials are conducted on human subjects.
Subjects in the control group receive a placebo, a sugar pill.
Subjects do not know if they are receiving the drug or placebo (blind trial).
Researchers analyzing results also do not know who received the drug or placebo (double-blind trial).

Monoclonal Antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies are made from clones of a cell that produces a specific antibody.
Hybridomas are created by combining lymphocytes with tumor cells.
Hybridomas are cloned to produce large amounts of antibodies.
These antibodies can treat diseases.
These can be used for medical diagnosis, pathogen detection, and molecule identification in tissue.
Monoclonal antibodies bind to a specific molecule and glow when grouped together, making them visible.
The downside of monoclonal antibodies is potential side effects, which are worse than scientists expected.

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Description

This quiz explores different pathogens that cause communicable diseases, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protists. It covers characteristics of pathogens, modes of transmission, and examples of diseases such as measles, HIV, and salmonella. Test your knowledge on how these pathogens affect the body and contribute to diseases.