Germs & Microbes
What do we call tiny organisms that are too small to see with our eyes?
Microorganisms (microbes)
What should you wash before eating to prevent spreading germs?
Hands
What system in your body fights infections?
Immune system
What was the famous deadly plague that spread through Europe in the 1300s called?
The Black Death
What do we use with water to wash germs off our hands?
Soap
Are all bacteria harmful to humans?
No
Name one way germs can spread between people.
Coughing, sneezing, touching, etc.
Which blood cells help fight infections?
White blood cells
Is the Black Death caused by a virus or bacteria?
Bacteria
What type of medicine treats bacterial infections?
Antibiotics
What tool do scientists use to see bacteria?
Microscope
What insect spreads malaria?
Mosquito
What does a vaccine help your body do?
Recognize and fight a specific disease.
What insect helped spread the Black Death?
Fleas
What famous antibiotic did Alexander Fleming discover?
Penicillin
What do we call a germ that causes disease?
Pathogen
What is an epidemic?
A disease outbreak affecting unusually many people in an area.
What proteins recognize and attach to specific antigens?
Antibodies
What disease did Edward Jenner develop an early vaccine against?
Smallpox
What theory explains that microorganisms can cause diseases?
Germ theory
What is the main difference between bacteria and viruses?
Bacteria are living cells; viruses need host cells to reproduce.
What is the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic?
A pandemic spreads across multiple countries or continents.
What is an antigen?
A substance recognized by the immune system that can trigger an immune response.
What is the scientific name of the bacterium responsible for the Black Death?
Yersinia pestis
Which scientist helped establish germ theory and developed pasteurization?
Louis Pasteur