Pathogens and their transmission
A pathogenMicroorganism that causes disease. is a microorganism that causes a disease. There are three main types of pathogen:
| Pathogen | Example in animals | Example in plants |
| Viruses | HIV potentially leading to AIDS | Tobacco mosaic virus |
| Bacteria | Salmonella | Agrobacterium |
| Fungi | Athlete's foot | Rose black spot |
| Pathogen | Viruses |
|---|---|
| Example in animals | HIV potentially leading to AIDS |
| Example in plants | Tobacco mosaic virus |
| Pathogen | Bacteria |
|---|---|
| Example in animals | Salmonella |
| Example in plants | Agrobacterium |
| Pathogen | Fungi |
|---|---|
| Example in animals | Athlete's foot |
| Example in plants | Rose black spot |
Pathogens infect a hostThe organism lived on or in by a parasite., reproduce themselves, or replicate if it is a virus, spread from their host and infect other organismLiving entity, eg animals, plants or microorganisms..
Diseases caused by pathogens are called communicable diseaseA disease that is caused by a pathogen and so is transmitted rather than inherited or caused by an environmental factor.. This means they can be transferred from one individual to another.
The spread of communicable disease
transmission The spreading of pathogenic disease, for example by touch, food, water. can occur in a number of important ways, as shown in the table below:
| Type | Examples |
| Direct contact | This can be through contact with other people, eg by shaking hands, or contact with surfaces that other people have touched. The common cold can be transmitted in this way. Pathogens can also be spread through sexual contact, eg the bacterium that causes gonorrhoea. |
| Water | Through water that is contaminated with microorganisms, such as the cholera bacterium. |
| Air | Through the air when people cough or sneeze. When a person who is infected by the common cold, influenza (flu) or measles, sneezes, they can spray thousands of tiny droplets containing virus particles to infect others. |
| Contaminated food | Through bacteria such as Salmonella in contaminated food. Food can be contaminated with bacteria by contact with infected people, or when it is prepared in unhygienic conditions. |
| Other animals | Through animals that scratch, bite or draw blood. |
| Vector | Any organism that can spread a disease is called a vector. Mosquitoes are the vectors in the spread of malaria. |
| Type | Direct contact |
|---|---|
| Examples | This can be through contact with other people, eg by shaking hands, or contact with surfaces that other people have touched. The common cold can be transmitted in this way. Pathogens can also be spread through sexual contact, eg the bacterium that causes gonorrhoea. |
| Type | Water |
|---|---|
| Examples | Through water that is contaminated with microorganisms, such as the cholera bacterium. |
| Type | Air |
|---|---|
| Examples | Through the air when people cough or sneeze. When a person who is infected by the common cold, influenza (flu) or measles, sneezes, they can spray thousands of tiny droplets containing virus particles to infect others. |
| Type | Contaminated food |
|---|---|
| Examples | Through bacteria such as Salmonella in contaminated food. Food can be contaminated with bacteria by contact with infected people, or when it is prepared in unhygienic conditions. |
| Type | Other animals |
|---|---|
| Examples | Through animals that scratch, bite or draw blood. |
| Type | Vector |
|---|---|
| Examples | Any organism that can spread a disease is called a vector. Mosquitoes are the vectors in the spread of malaria. |
Malaria
malariaA potentially fatal disease spread by mosquitoes. is a disease caused by a protistA eukaryotic, usually single-celled organism of the kingdom Protista. called Plasmodium. Malaria kills just under half a million people a year worldwide.
Plasmodium is a parasiteAn organism that lives in or on another organism (the host). The parasite receives nutrients from the host, harming the host as it does so.. It spends part of its life cycle in mosquitoes, and part in humans. The mosquito acts as a vectorAny organism that can spread a disease. .
Mosquitoes that carry malaria are often found in areas with higher temperatures in Africa, Asia, and South and Central America.
In the life cycle of Plasmodium, a mosquito sucks blood containing the protists from an infected person. The mosquito passes the protist to other people when it sucks their blood. The mosquitoes are unaffected by the parasite, since they act as vectors.
The symptoms of malaria include a fever, sweats and chills, headaches, vomiting and diarrhoeaLiquid faeces. . Damage is also caused to the blood and liver. After decades of research scientists developed the first malaria vaccine in 2021. Infection continues to be reduced by stopping individuals from being bitten. People sleep under mosquito nets and wear insect repellent to avoid bites. antimalarial drugMedicine that stops or treats a malarial infection. are also taken, which treat the symptoms and can prevent infection.
Athlete's foot
Athlete's foot is a rash caused by a fungus that is found between people's toes. It causes the skin between the toes to become dry, itchy, red and cracked or scaly.
The fungus is often found in communal areas such as swimming pool or gym changing rooms. It is transmitted by walking on surfaces that have been previously contaminated or touching infected skin. Athlete's foot can be treated by antifungal medicationDrugs that treat fungal infections like athlete's foot..
