13352535
Description
Flashcards by Mrs Z Rourke, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by Mrs Z Rourke
about 6 years ago
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| Question | Answer |
| What is the name given to harmful micro-organisms? | Pathogens |
| How can bacteria, fungi and viruses be spread? | • contact, • through the air, • body fluids, • water, • insects, • contaminated food. |
| What are the three body defences against infection? | 1. The skin stops microbes getting into the body. 2. Platelets stop microbes getting into the body through a cut. 3. White blood cells defend against microbes that are inside the body. |
| What do white blood cells do to protect against pathogens? | White blood cells can: • ingest pathogens and destroy them • produce antibodies which inactivate particular pathogens • produce antitoxins which counteract the toxins released by pathogens. |
| What are antigens? | Antigens are proteins that are found on the surface of pathogens. When an antigen enters the body, the immune system produces antibodies against it. Antigens are recognised by a special type of white blood cell called a lymphocyte. |
| What are lymphocytes? | One type of white blood cell is called a lymphocyte. These are the cells responsible for producing antibodies. |
| What are antibodies? | Antibodies are specific to the antigen that is present. They neutralise the pathogen with the antigen. |
| How do antibodies work? | • they bind to pathogens and damage or destroy them • they coat pathogens, clumping them together so that they are easily ingested by other white blood cells (called phagocytes) • they bind to the pathogens and release chemical signals to attract more white blood cells (phagocytes) |
| What is a vaccination? | A vaccine introduces a small amount of dead or inactive pathogens into the body causing an immune response. |
| After an antigen from a pathogen has been encountered, what does the body create for the future? | Memory cells |
| Why are memory cells important? | If the pathogen enters the body in the future, the immune response will be much quicker |
| What are antibiotics? | Antibiotics help to cure bacterial disease by killing the infecting bacteria or preventing their growth but do not kill viruses |
| How are antibiotics produced? | Antibiotics, including penicillin, were originally medicines produced by living organisms, such as fungi. Antibiotics are now often chemically modified and so are semi-synthetic or synthetic. |
| How have some bacteria become resistant to antibiotics? | Due to overuse of antibiotics (refer to natural selection) |
| How can MRSA be controlled? | MRSA control measures could include: • hand washing • thorough cleaning of hospital wards • use of alcohol gels • MRSA screening |
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