Infectious Agents

pltw biomedical science - infectius agents

Prions

Any of various infectious proteins that are abnormal forms of normal cellular proteins

proliferate by inducing normal proteins to convert to the abnormal form that causes diseases

ie mad cow disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and kuru

Viruses

Any of a large group of nonliving, submicroscopic infective agents that typically comprise an RNA or DNA core of genetic material surrounded by a protein coat

not cellular and require a host in which to replicate

cause various important diseases in all forms of life

Bacteria

Single-celled, prokaryotic microorganisms that are often aggregated into colonies or motile by means of flagella

found in nearly every environment on Earth (ubiquitous)

Protists

Any protozoan of the phylum or subkingdom Protozoa

Fungi

Saprophytic (obtain food by absorbing) and parasitic spore-producing eukaryotic organisms that lack chlorophyll

ie molds, rusts, mildews, smuts, mushrooms, and yeasts

Helminths

A large, eukaryotic, multicellular, parasitic worm

ie tapeworm, liver fluke, ascarid, or leech