A Quick Overview of Pathogens
Bacteria are prokaryotic cells that are present in the soil, air, water, and in human body parts. They reproduce quickly in a short time and produce toxins often as waste products, which can harm the host. Bacteria are transmitted through the environment, contact or through vectors. They commonly cause tetanus, pneumonia, tuberculosis, whooping cough
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Prions are a form of proteins that have undergone an alteration from their normal shape. It causes infection by converting normal proteins into prion proteins, eventually prompting a cell to burst and infect other cells. This bursting also leads to the holes seen in the infected brains. It is caused by the consumption of brains or spinal cord of infected animals. Most common disease is Mad Cow Disease.
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Helminths are large multicellular organisms that are commonly referred to as intestinal worms. They cause infection by disrupting their hosts’ nutrient absorption. They are transferred in their egg state when they are in fertilizer. They then are able to reach agriculture and eventually humans. They cause various digestive problems.
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Protists are organisms that are unicellular that form no tissues. They all act differently, but act as parasites to attack host cells. They are passed through the environment, contact or through vectors. They most commonly cause malaria and Montezuma’s revenge.
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Fungal infections attack tissues on the surface of the body. They pass from person to person through direct contact or through clothes or contact with the environment. They most common cause ringworm, athlete’s foot and yeast infections.
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A virus is an ultramicroscopic infectious agent that consists of a piece of nucleic acid wrapped in a thin coat of protein. It causes infection by replicating itself only within cells of living hosts then results in the death of the host’s cells. It is passed by environment, contact or vector. The main diseases are Mumps, influenza, HIV and chicken pox.
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