Untitled Flashcards Set

Infectious disease

A disease that occurs when microorganisms disrupt normal body functions.

Pathogens

Microorganisms that cause disease.

Germ Theory of Disease

The theory that infectious diseases occur when microorganisms disrupt normal body functions, proposed in the mid-nineteenth century by Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch.

Vaccine

A preparation of weakened or killed pathogens or inactivated toxins used to stimulate the body’s immune system.

Immunity

The body’s ability to destroy pathogens or inactivated toxins.

Bacterial Meningitis

A disease characterized by high fever, headache, and stiff neck, caused by bacteria spread in respiratory droplets.

Antigens

Any foreign substance that can stimulate an immune response.

B cells

Lymphocytes that produce antibodies in response to antigens.

T cells

Lymphocytes that help to destroy infected host cells.

Humoral Immunity

The aspect of immunity that involves antibodies binding to antigens in body fluids.

Cell-Mediated Immunity

The aspect of immunity where body cells containing antigens are destroyed.

Memory cells

Cells that remember previous pathogens for quicker secondary immune response.

Autoimmune Disease

A condition where the immune system attacks its own body cells.

Epidemic

An infectious disease that becomes widespread in a particular population.

Pandemic

An infectious disease that reaches epidemic proportions in multiple countries.

COVID-19

A disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that emerged rapidly as a pandemic.

Phagocytes

White blood cells that engulf and destroy bacteria and damaged cells.

Disinfectants

Chemical solutions that kill bacteria.

Antibiotics

Drugs that block the growth and reproduction of bacteria.

Athlete's Foot

A fungal infection caused by fungi that thrive in warm, moist environments.

Thrust

A fungal infection in which a single-celled fungus known as Candida infects tissue in the mouth.