Question 1

Vaccinations

Accepted Answer

Vaccinations have been developed to protect us from future infections. A vaccination involves an injection of a dead or weakened version of the pathogen. They carry antigens which cause your body to produce antibodies which will attack the pathogen. If you are infected again, the white blood cells can produce antibodies quickly.

Question 2

Communicable Disease

Accepted Answer

Pathogens are microorganisms that enter the body and cause communicable disease (infectious). Plants and animals can be infected by them. Bacteria are small cells that can reproduce very quickly in the body. They produce toxins that make you feel ill, damaging your cells and tissues. Viruses are much smaller than bacteria; they can also reproduce quickly in the body. Viruses live inside your cell where they replicate. They then burst out of the cell, releasing new viruses. Protists are eukaryotes (multicellular). Some are parasites which live on or inside other organisms, often carried by a vector. Fungi are sometimes single celled, others have hyphae that grow and penetrate human skin and the surface of plants. They can produce spores which can spread to other plants.

Question 3

The Immune System

Accepted Answer

This kills any pathogens that enter the body. Phagocytosisis when white blood cells engulf pathogens and then digest them. They produce antitoxins to neutralise the toxins. They also produce antibodies. Pathogens have antigens on their surface, antibodies produced by the white blood cells lock on to the antigen on the outside of the pathogen. White blood cells can then destroy the pathogens. Antibodies are specific to one antigen and will only work on that pathogen.

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