Disease Ecology lecture 1

Pathogen

Biological agent that produces disease in a host via infection, usually a microorganism

Parasite

Organism living in close association (in or on) with host , gaining benefits at the expense of the host

Disease

Any deviation from the normal structure/ function of a body part that optimizes health

Parasitology

Study of pathogenic effects of parasites on individuals (transmission, infection, signs/symptoms, mortality) w microbiology, immunological, and biochemistry techniques

Negative view of disease

Epidemiology

Study of distribution and causes of human health related events at population level ( pandemics, etc)

Disease ecology

Studies transmission and impacts of pathogen induced diseases across the four levels pf ecology through the lens of ecological principles, not necessarily with the aim of eliminating disease

4 levels of ecology

Individuals, populations, communities, ecosystems

Sign

Objective and physically noticeable evidence that can be measured, like high blood pressure, a rash, fever

Symptom

Subjective experience described by patient, like a stomachache, lightheadedness, pain, fatigue

Intrinsic disease

Generated within body: anemia, thyroid disease, many autoimmune disorders

6 types of intrinsic diseases

Hereditary, glandular (thyroid, diabetes), dietary (scurvy), stress-related to neurons, autoimmune, cancer

Extrinsic

Diseases arising from outside the body: pathogens, cancers caused by external carcinogens, etc.

Infectious

Diseases caused by pathogens

Non-infectious

Disease not caused by a pathogen, and not spread among organisms

Micro - parasite

Completes life cycle in one host (most Common, virus/bacterial)

Macroparasite

Completes part of life cycle in one host, part of life cycle on different host or as free living organism

Virus

Lacks proper cell wall and structure, inserts genetic info into host (like nonliving but like it depends who you ask?)

Bacteria

Single cell prokaryotes that can reproduce on their own, they don't have a nucleus or membrane bound organelles but do have a cell wall ( definitely living)

Fungi

Microparasites, eukaryotes with membrane- bound organelles, clearly defined nuclei, resemble plants through vegetative growth, differ in that they don't do photosynthesis

Helminths

Eukaryotic parasitic worms that live inside host, do not complete their whole life cycle in a single host

3 types: flatworms, thorny headed worms, roundworms

most damage is nutrient deprivation and inflammation in host due to large population

Yummy yummy tapeworms

Macroparasites

Protists:small, considered macroparasites because they dont complete life cycle in one host

Eukaryotic organisms that arent plant, animal, or fungi, single celled, feed by heterotrophy

Arthropods: can either be parasites or vectors

What is ecology

Study of interactions between organisms + their environment and how these interactions determine population size regarding species, community, and the flow of energy/ nutrients

Individual scale ecology

Examines how individuals in a species use physiology, behaviors, and foraging strategies to deal with abiotic and biotic stressors

Population scale ecology

Examines all the individuals of a certain species in an area and whether the population is growing or shrinking

Community scale ecology

Biological and environmental processes that allow populations of multiple species to exist together in a community, and how those patterns of existence change over time/space

Ecosystem scale ecology

Sum of the biological community, the physical setting, and flux of materials. Includes phenomena from regional to global scale

Primary literature

Immediate results of research activities ie. Original published articles in peer reviewed journals

Secondary literature

Summarizes and synthesizes primary literature, broader & less current i.e. lit review, book

Tertiary literature

Summarized & condensed version of materials ie. Dictionary, textbook