Types of Pathogens
A microscopic agent like bacteria, virus, or fungus that causes disease
What is a pathogen?
This bacterial disease affects the lungs and causes persistent coughing
What is tuberculosis?
This common viral infection causes fever, body aches, and fatigue
What is the flu (influenza)?
The most effective way to prevent the spread of many diseases
What is handwashing?
Medications used to kill bacteria
What are antibiotics?
This type of pathogen is a single-celled organism that can reproduce independently
What is bacteria?
A bacterial infection common in children, often treated with antibiotics like penicillin
What is strep throat?
This virus attacks the immune system and can lead to AIDS
What is HIV?
Diseases spread through coughing and sneezing travel this way
What is airborne transmission?
Overuse of antibiotics can lead to this serious problem
What is antibiotic resistance?
This pathogen requires a host cell to reproduce and is not considered truly alive
What is a virus?
A bacterial disease spread by ticks that causes rash and flu-like symptoms
What is Lyme disease?
This viral disease causes a rash and is preventable by the MMR vaccine
What is measles?
Vaccines help protect by doing this
What is stimulating the immune system to recognize pathogens?
This treatment involves giving weakened or inactive pathogens to build immunity
What is vaccination?
This group includes molds and yeasts
What are fungi?
This disease is caused by Clostridium tetani and leads to muscle stiffness
What is tetanus?
A mosquito-borne viral disease that causes high fever and joint pain
What is dengue fever?
This vector spreads diseases such as malaria
What is a mosquito?
This type of immunity occurs when antibodies are transferred from one person to another, such as from mother to baby or via antibody treatments
What is passive immunity?
This pathogen category includes protozoa and worms
What are parasites?
This bacterial infection is a major cause of stomach ulcers
What is Helicobacter pylori?
This viral disease, eradicated in 1980, was once responsible for widespread deadly outbreaks
What is smallpox?
When a large portion of a population becomes immune, it is called this
What is herd immunity?
This type of immunity develops after exposure to a pathogen and results in the body creating its own antibodies
What is active immunity?