6.3 Identifying and controlling the spread of pathogens

what are the three main components of disease causation?

• an agent or pathogen, disease-causing organisms

• a host, target of disease

• the environment conditions, allows for transmission of disease

what is a casual pathogen?

• a pathogen that is causing a specific disease

how can you identify viruses?

• physical methods

• immunological methods

• molecular methods

what the physical methods to identify viruses?

identifying pathogens based on size and shape

what the molecular methods to identify viruses?

methods using DNA or RNA to identify pathogens

what the immunological methods methods to identify viruses?

methods used to diagnose pathogens based on the specific antigens or antibodies

what are the types of immunological methods to identifying viruses?

• direct elisa

• indirect elisa

• sandwich elisa

what is an elisa?

a technique which can detect specific antigens or antibodies

what is direct elisa ?

where a primary antibody with an enzyme indicator directly binds to an antigen attached to a surface

what is an indirect elisa ?

a primary antibody attached to another secondary antibody with an enzyme indicator that binds to an antigen attached to a surface

what is a sandwich elisa?

where an antigen attached to an antibody with an enzyme indicator binds to an antibody attached to a surface

what methods are used to identify bacteria?

• phenotypic methods

• immunological methods

• genotypic methods

what are the phenotypic methods for identifying bacteria?

techniques to differentiate bacteria on the basis of microscopy, different media and biochemical tests

what are the genotypic methods for identifying bacteria?

techniques used by examine its genetic material - serotypes

what are serotypes?

variants within a species of bacerium or virus that are distinguished by their surface antigens

what are the immunological methods for identifying bacteria?

using techniques like monoclonal antibodies, ELISA etc.. to identify bacteria

how does transmission of pathogens occur?

when a pathogen-agent leaves it s reservoir (habitat where it grows) or host through a point of exit an enters the point of entry to infect a susceptible host

how can you chemically control the spread of pathogens?

via sterilisation or chemical agents like antiseptics and disinfectants