2. types of infectious agents

infectious agent is any pathogenic microorganism or entity that can:

• invade a host

• trigger an immune response, potentially leading to disease

infectious agents posess specific structures called antigents

these are recognised by the host immune system and lead to the production of antibodies and the activation of immune cells to defend against the ifnection

types of infectious agents

• bacteria

• viruses

• fungi

• protazoa

bacteria

gram staining = structural differences between bacterial cell walls which make them either +/- which affects how they interact with drugs

viruses

acellular nucleic material that contaisn either DNA or RNA surrponded by a protein coat (capsid) and are dependent on the machinery of host cells for replication

fungi

many naturally occuring bodily fungi, mycosis

mycosis fungal infection are caused by

yeasr or mould

mycosis fungal infections commonly occur on

skin and nails (even lungs)

protozoa