Learning objective
Give a clear account of a pathogen as a disease-causing organism, covering viruses, bacteria, fungi and protists.
Read the explanation, check the common trap, then practise with flashcards and questions.
At a glance
10
Flashcards
7
Questions
Topic
Health, disease and the development of medicines
Subtopic
Pathogens: Types and Disease Mechanisms
Study support
Understand this objective
Quick explanation
Give a clear account of a pathogen as a disease-causing organism, covering viruses, bacteria, fungi and protists
- This point belongs to Health, disease and the development of medicines, especially Pathogens: Types and Disease Mechanisms.
- You need to be able to give a clear account of a pathogen as a disease-causing organism, covering viruses, bacteria, fungi and protists.
- Use the linked flashcards and practice questions to check recall, then practise applying the idea in an exam-style answer.
Why it matters
This objective helps connect Pathogens: Types and Disease Mechanisms to exam-style questions, flashcards, and revision notes for Health, disease and the development of medicines.
Revision tools
Choose how to practise
Flashcards10 linked cards
Flashcard 1 of 10
Practice Questions7 linked questions
Question 1 of 7
Choose an answer, get feedback, then move sideways through the set.
Revision notestopic notes
Open the full topic revision notes when you are ready to review this objective in context.
Open revision notesRelated learning objectives
- Give a clear account of the difference between communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Communicable vs. Non-Communicable Diseases
- Give reasons why the presence of one disease can lead to a higher susceptibility to other diseases.
Impact of Existing Diseases on Subsequent Infections
- Give a clear account of some common infections, covering: a cholera (bacteria) causes diarrhoea b tuberculosis (bacteria) causes lung damage c Chalara ash dieback (fungi) causes leaf loss and bark lesions d malaria (protists) causes damage to blood and liver e HIV (virus) destroys white blood cells, leading to the onset of AIDS fB stomach ulcers resulting from Helicobacter (bacteria) gB Ebola (virus) causes haemorrhagic fever.
Common Infectious Diseases
- Build an explanation of the way pathogens are spread and how this spread may be reduced or prevented, covering: a cholera (bacteria) – water b tuberculosis (bacteria) – airborne c Chalara ash dieback (fungi) – airborne d malaria (protists) – animal vectors eB stomach ulcers resulting from Helicobacter (bacteria) – oral transmission fB Ebola (virus) – body fluids.
Pathogen Transmission and Prevention
- Give a clear account of the lifecycle of a virus, covering lysogenic and lytic pathways.
Viral Life Cycles: Lytic and Lysogenic Pathways