Immunity and Infection

A set of flashcards designed to help review key concepts related to immunity, types of pathogens, associated diseases, and treatments.

Pathogen

An organism that causes disease, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, or parasitic worms.

Bacteria

Microscopic single-celled organisms that can be pathogenic.

Virus

A microscopic organism that replicates only inside the cells of other living organisms.

Fungi

A group of unicellular or multicellular organisms, including yeasts and molds, that can cause infections.

Protozoa

Single-celled organisms that can cause diseases, often transmitted through vectors or contaminated sources.

Parasitic Worms

Large organisms that live on or in a host and feed on it.

Antibiotics

Drugs that inhibit the growth of bacteria or kill them.

Viral Encephalitis

Inflammation of the brain tissue caused by viral infections.

Candida Albicans

A common yeast infection that can occur in women, resulting from an imbalance in flora.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Newly identified or previously unknown infections, often spreading rapidly.

Zika Disease

A viral infection spread by mosquitoes that can cause severe birth defects.

Ebola

A severe and often fatal viral disease characterized by fever and bleeding.

Lyme Disease

A bacterial infection transmitted by ticks that can cause various symptoms including rash and flu-like symptoms.

Tuberculosis (TB)

A bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affecting the lungs.

Pathogen

An organism that causes disease, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, or parasitic worms.

Bacteria

Microscopic single-celled organisms that can be pathogenic.

Virus

A microscopic organism that replicates only inside the cells of other living organisms.

Fungi

A group of unicellular or multicellular organisms, including yeasts and molds, that can cause infections.

Protozoa

Single-celled organisms that can cause diseases, often transmitted through vectors or contaminated sources.

Parasitic Worms

Large organisms that live on or in a host and feed on it.

Antibiotics

Drugs that inhibit the growth of bacteria or kill them.

Viral Encephalitis

Inflammation of the brain tissue caused by viral infections.

Candida Albicans

A common yeast infection that can occur in women, resulting from an imbalance in flora.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Newly identified or previously unknown infections, often spreading rapidly.

Zika Disease

A viral infection spread by mosquitoes that can cause severe birth defects.

Ebola

A severe and often fatal viral disease characterized by fever and bleeding.

Lyme Disease

A bacterial infection transmitted by ticks that can cause various symptoms including rash and flu-like symptoms.

Tuberculosis (TB)

A bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affecting the lungs.

Host

An organism that harbors a pathogen, providing nourishment and shelter for its replication and survival.

Vector

An organism, often an arthropod like a mosquito or tick, that transmits a pathogen from one host to another.

Vaccine

A biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease.

Zoonotic Disease

An infectious disease that has jumped from an animal to humans.

Pathogen

An organism that causes disease, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, or parasitic worms.

Bacteria

Microscopic single-celled organisms that can be pathogenic.

Virus

A microscopic organism that replicates only inside the cells of other living organisms.

Fungi

A group of unicellular or multicellular organisms, including yeasts and molds, that can cause infections.

Protozoa

Single-celled organisms that can cause diseases, often transmitted through vectors or contaminated sources.

Parasitic Worms

Large organisms that live on or in a host and feed on it.

Antibiotics

Drugs that inhibit the growth of bacteria or kill them.

Viral Encephalitis

Inflammation of the brain tissue caused by viral infections.

Candida Albicans

A common yeast infection that can occur in women, resulting from an imbalance in flora.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Newly identified or previously unknown infections, often spreading rapidly.

Zika Disease

A viral infection spread by mosquitoes that can cause severe birth defects.

Ebola

A severe and often fatal viral disease characterized by fever and bleeding.

Lyme Disease

A bacterial infection transmitted by ticks that can cause various symptoms including rash and flu-like symptoms.

Tuberculosis (TB)

A bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affecting the lungs.

Host

An organism that harbors a pathogen, providing nourishment and shelter for its replication and survival.

Vector

An organism, often an arthropod like a mosquito or tick, that transmits a pathogen from one host to another.

Vaccine

A biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease.

Zoonotic Disease

An infectious disease that has jumped from an animal to humans.

Chain of Infection

A conceptual model describing the six necessary links for an infectious disease to spread: infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host.

Reservoir (Chain of Infection)

The natural habitat or source where an infectious agent lives, multiplies, and from which it can be transmitted to a susceptible host (e.g., humans, animals, environment).

Portal of Exit (Chain of Infection)

The route by which an infectious agent leaves the reservoir to be transmitted to another host (e.g., respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, skin breaks).

Mode of Transmission (Chain of Infection)

The method by which an infectious agent is transferred from a reservoir to a susceptible host (e.g., direct contact, indirect contact, airborne, vector-borne).

Portal of Entry (Chain of Infection)

The route by which an infectious agent enters a susceptible host (e.g., respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, mucous membranes, skin breaks).

Susceptible Host (Chain of Infection)

An individual who lacks effective resistance to a particular infectious agent and is therefore vulnerable to developing the disease.

Treatment for viral infections

Often relies on antiviral drugs that inhibit viral replication, but many viral infections currently lack specific effective treatments, focusing instead on supportive care or vaccines for prevention.

Fungal infections (Mycoses)

Infections caused by fungi, ranging from superficial skin conditions (e.g., athlete's foot) to systemic, life-threatening diseases, often difficult to treat due to similarities between fungal and human cells.

Malaria

A severe protozoan disease transmitted by mosquitoes, characterized by fever, chills, and flu-like illness, caused by Plasmodium parasites.