For instance, Lactobacillus acidophilus — a harmless bacterium that resides in your intestines — helps you digest food, destroys some disease-causing organisms and provides nutrients. Many disease-causing bacteria produce toxins — powerful chemicals that damage cells and make you ill. Bacteria can multiply very rapidly if given the right environment. Viruses are much smaller than cells. In fact, viruses can only be seen by electronic microscope. To reproduce, viruses invade cells in your body, hijacking the machinery that makes cells work.
A virus is a small infectious agent and can replicate only inside the living cells of an organism. Viruses can infect all types of organisms, from Animals, Humans Plants and even Bacteria by touch or air borne. Fungus or singular Fungi. Most fungi are inconspicuous because of the small size of their structures, and their lifestyles in soil, on dead matter, and after a long term relationship with plants, animals, or other fungi only becoming visible when reproducing. They also feed on many Bacteria in decaying matter organisms to survive.
Fay Chambers Unit 4223-008 Causes and spread of infection Bacteria are single celled organisms; they are among the most successful life forms on Earth and can survive in all habitats. Some bacteria are good for us. ‘Friendly’ bacteria for example help us to digest food, whilst other forms of bacteria can cause serious illness. The kinds of bacteria that cause infection are called pathogenic bacteria. Many bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics although some strains are now becoming resistant.
They have to invade cells and use the cellular machinery to live and reproduce. They are known to hijack almost every type of organism – including bacteria. Antibiotics have NO effect on viruses. There are many types of fungi – many of which we eat (like mushrooms) or use as ingredients in our food (like yeast). Others exist in the environment as spores of moulds A parasite is an organism that lives on or in another organism, harming the host.
This type of the plague can also be contracted if the bacterium enters the bloodstream from the bubonic plague and travels to the lungs. Once the bacterium has entered the lungs, it causes severe pneumonia. The symptoms for this disease include high fever, vomiting and nausea, and difficulty breathing. You will also cough up bloody
Parasites – an organism that feeds and is dependant of its host. 1.2 Identify common illnesses and infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites Bacteria – Lyme disease, Tuberculosis, tetanus, MRSA (methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus) Viruses – polio, Norovirus, common cold, flu, chicken pox Fungi – tinea pinus, athletes foot, oral thrush Parasites- worms, ticks, lice, mites 1.3 Describe what is meant by ‘infection’ and ‘colonisation’ Infection – is an invasion of a hosts organisms bodily tissues by a disease causing organism. Colonisation – occurs when any one or more species populate a specific area. 1.4 Explain what is meant by ‘systemic infection’ and ‘localised infection’ A systemic infection is so named because the pathogen that causes it, and often the symptoms that it causes, are spread throughout the systems of the body, instead of being localized in one area -- as they are in a local infection. Systemic infections are not necessarily more severe than local infections, they just affect a larger proportion of the body.
1.2 Identify common illnesses and infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites The most common illnesses and infections that occur due to bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites are Dioreah, Vomiting, Influenza, Nail infections, Tick bites, Colds, Skin Conditions, Digestive Problems ( Parasites - Worms ) and in some cases, Death. 1.3 Describe what is meant by “Infection” and “Colonisation” As defined by : www.freedictionary.com INFECTION Invasion by and multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms in a bodily part or tissue, which may produce subsequent tissue injury and progress to overt disease through a variety of cellular or toxic mechanisms. This means that Infection is the process of infecting or being infected. COLONISATION A mass of microorganisms in a culture that originates from a single cell. This means that when either a Virus, Bacteria, Fungi or parasites in the single form, gather and join to make one mass of either Virus, Bacteria, Fungi or parasites.
Disease Yersinia pestis The Plague Jesus Urquijo Biology 113 Lab March 18, 2013 Microbes are what make the world what it is today. They are found in nearly every environment on earth. Each species has its own way of getting nutrients and adapting to its environment, such as pH, aerobic and anaerobic conditions, and enzymes that are essential for optimum living. The majority of bacteria living on earth are harmless if not beneficial to the human race, but those few microbes that are harmful to humans are those that cause disease. They are referred to as pathogens and need to be observed so we can prevent the spreading of disease caused by those particular microbes.
It begins at the site of a break in the skin (a surgical or non-surgical wound). In order for someone to contract necrotizing fasciitis, the bacteria must be introduced into the body. Group A Strep is the same bacterium that causes strep throat This group of bacteria is responsible for mild cases of sore throat (pharyngitis), skin infections, as well as rare, severe illnesses such as toxic shock syndrome and necrotizing fasciitis. However, there are various strains of the bacteria, some of which are more powerful than others. With the right set of conditions, necrotizing fasciitis is a real risk and can cause severe damage.
After being transmitted via the bite of an infected flea the Y. pestis bacteria become localized in inflamed lymph where they begin to colonize and reproduce. Buboes associated with the bubonic plague are commonly found in the armpits, upper femoral, and groin and neck region. Acral gangrene (i.e. of the fingers, toes, lips and nose), is another common symptom. Due to its bite-based form of infection, the bubonic plague is often the first step of a progressive series of illnesses.