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BTEC Unit 12 - disease and infection assignment A
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BTEC applied science unit 12 assignment A, grade distinction
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Learning aim A biologyAmber James 10266480
An infectious disease can be caused by microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and
viruses. Normally these organisms can be harmless to us and go unnoticed
however, under certain conditions these can cause harm to our bodies. Like the
name suggests they can be passed from person to person via water, air, pets,
and food, that have all been contaminated by microorganisms. These organisms
can affect people in many ways such as mild infections, fatigue, fever, and may
even cause hospitalisation. One way to treat these problems is by having
vaccines and keeping clean e.g. washing hands (Clinic, 2022).
Pathoge Characteristics of the Pathogen Example
n
Bacteri A simple bacteria cell consists of pilus, ribosomes, Meningitis is a bacterial
a cell wall, flagellum, and nucleoid. Characteristic disease that commonly
shapes of bacteria include cocci, rods, affects babies to young
and spirals they can also come with pairs, adults, this can be
tendrils and clusters which makes it extremely dangerous if
easier to identify. Because bacteria are not treated as it can
prokaryotes, they do not have a nucleus affect the blood leading
but instead have a nucleoid which is an to nerve damage.
irregular shape and contains DNA. Symptoms of this
Bacteria have flagella, a tail-like structure disease can include a
that allows the bacteria to swim, this rash that does not
makes the organism easier to recognise disappear when a glass
by the number and placement on the cell. is rolled over, sickness,
Another way to spot bacteria is by the high temperatures and
capsule as some have a slime layer and
seizures. Bacterial
others have polysaccharide gel (editors,
meningitis can be spread
2019).
through sneezing,
coughing, and kissing
and is much more
dangerous that viral
meningitis. An injection
can be used to prevent
meningitis, it is usually
given to new-born
babies with follow-up
doses, teenagers
starting college or
university and one
injection offered to
people aged 65 or over.
Other treatments (if
diagnosed with
meningitis) include
antibiotics injected into
the vein and oxygen
through a mask (NHS,
Meningitis , 2023).
, Virus They have an envelope, envelope protein Shingles is a viral
and viral genome (Deshpande, 2023). disease and is where a
Viruses are grouped by size, shape, painful rash can develop,
structure of the genome and many more symptoms can include
(Gelderblom, 2023). Viruses are mainly feeling unwell and a
classified by the shape; this is because painful feeling in a
they normally have a complex shape that certain area of skin. To
other microorganisms do not have. treat shingles people can
Viruses are small (about 20-400 take paracetamol for
nanometres) they have a capsid for pain, wear loose clothing
protection and the genetic material is to stop any cloth binding
composed of DNA or RNA. Viruses have to the rash, always keep
no cytoplasm or cellular organelles and
the area clean and use a
can only replicate using the hosts
cold compress a few
metabolism (Kaiser, n.d.). Viruses do not
times a week (NHS,
contain cells and do not have a cell wall,
instead they have a protein coating called 2023). It can affect you
a capsid for protection. They can be in many ways such as
classified based on nucleic acid, either with a fever, headaches,
DNA virus or RNA virus (Louten, 2016). red patches on body,
rash, itching, nausea,
and blisters.
Parasite A parasite needs the ‘host’ alive to be Toxoplasmosis is a
able to feed and live. It can live inside or disease caused by the
outside a body which can then lead to parasite Toxoplasma
disease. They can often not have a single gondii. Symptoms
cell therefore it needs to take over include high
different cells to use as their own. They temperature, fatigue,
are usually smaller than the host. They swollen glands, sore
can have claws or hooks to attach throat, and slurred
themselves to their host, and a piercing speech. It can get better
mouth for feeding. Parasites like fleas on its own however, you
have long back legs for jumping and are at higher risk if you
backward pointing hairs for easy have a weakened
movement when going through hairs immune system,
(Murray, 2020). pregnant or have more
severe symptoms like
confusion and blurred
vision. It can be found in
uncooked meats and poo
from infected cats (NHS,
2023).
Fungus They have no chloroplast, and the cell Some fungi cause
wall contains chitin (Mine, 2023). The diseases, for example
membrane in fungi does not break down candidiasis. This is a
during mitosis. Fungi is different from yeast found on skin,
plant cells because fungi are mucous membranes,
decomposers whereas plants are and intestinal tract.
producers. Different fungi can be yeast, These can develop to
Molds, and mushrooms. They are thrush. Thrush develops
eukaryotic organisms (Vernon Ahmadjian, in the mouth or throat, if
2023). Fungi cells are larger than bacteria these overgrow it can
with a size of 2-10 micrometres (N/A, lead to invasive
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