Causes and Spread of Infection

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causes and spread of infection outcome 1 understand the causes of infection · identify the differences between bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites Bacteria: Bacteria are living things that are neither plants nor animals, but belong to a group all by themselves. They are very small--individually not more than one single cell--however there are normally millions of them together, for they can multiply really fast.Bacteria are prokaryotes (single cells that do not contain a nucleus). Bacteria is a single celled organism and, unlike viruses, do not need a living host to reproduce. Viruses: A virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of organisms. Most viruses are too small to be seen directly with a light microscope. Viruses infect all types of organisms, from animals and plants to bacteria .Viruses are not considered living because they are unable to reproduce.All viruses have genes made from either DNA or RNA, long molecules that carry genetic information; all have a protein coat that protects these genes; and some have an envelope of fat that surrounds them when they are outside a cell. Fungi: These are Eukaryotes..when compared to bacteria(prokaryote) and virus.Like plants and animals, fungi are eukaryotic multicellular organisms.Fungi are multi-cellular organisms and parasites are any vectors that require a living host in order to live/reproduce. Both bacteria and fungi can survive on their own, while viruses have to infect a host to survive Parasites: A parasite is an organism that lives on or inside another organism to the detriment of the host organism. These are of various forms and types.A parasite is an organism that lives on or in a host and gets its food from or at the expense of its host. Parasites can cause disease in humans. Some parasitic diseases are easily treated and some are not. The

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