CHAPTER 15: IMMUNE SYSTEM, BACTERIA, VIRUSES AND OTHER PATHOGENS
STUDY GUIDE
BY THE END OF THIS CHAPTER YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO:
1. CONTRAST BACTERIA, VIRUSES & PROTOZOA BASED ON THEIR CELLULAR CHARACTERISTICS
2. DEFINE COMPONENTS OF THE 3 LINES OF DEFENSE AND ILLUSTRATE THE FUNCTIONS OF
EACH.
STUDY GUIDE:
I. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS REGARDING BACTERIA, THEIR STRUCTURAL
FEATURES AND THEIR FUNCTIONS; MODE OF REPLICATION, AND THE DISEASES ASSOCIATED
WITH THEM:
1. Match column A to their corresponding function or process in column B
COLUMN A
1. pili
2. gelatinous coat
3. flagella
4. plasmid
5. circular DNA
6. binary fission
7. nucleoid region
8. 20 minutes/division
9. MRSA
10. antibiotic resistance
COLUMN B
5 encode all bacterial genes
9 deadly strain of staphiloccocus aureus
3 swimming aid for some bacteria
8 leads to exponential growth
1 used to transmit genetic material during conjugation
4 small circular extra DNA in some bacteria
2 helps bacteria attachment to cells they infect
10 develops as result of natural selection
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mode of replication
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location of single circular DNA inside bacterial cell
2. List the 3 shapes found in bacteria and their general names:
Spherical (cocci)
Rodshaped (bacilli)
Spiral (spirochetes)
3. Name the bacteria that is associated with toxic shock syndrome in humans?
Staphylococcus
4. State the biological names of the bacteria that cause each of the following diseases:
Anthrax Bacillus Antracis Botulism Clostridium Botulinum Tetanus Clostridium Tetani
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CHAPTER 15: IMMUNE SYSTEM, BACTERIA, VIRUSES AND OTHER PATHOGENS
STUDY GUIDE
ii. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS REGARDING VIRUSES, THEIR STRUCTURAL
FEATURES, MODE OF REPLICATION, AND THE DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.
5. List the infection steps of a DNA viruses in the order they occur:
1- Viral membrane fuses with host cell; capsid is removed and genome enters
2- In case of RNA virus- the viral genome is used to synthesize many copies of DNA by
the reverse transcriptase enzyme
3- DNA is transcribed and translated by the host cell. More viral proteins and copies of
the viral genome are produced
4- Once assembled, new viruses leave the host cell and infect other cells
6. State how the above differ from steps involved in RNA virus infection:
In case of RNA virus- the viral genome is used to synthesize many copies of DNA by the
reverse transcriptase enzyme
7. Name 3 diseases caused by viral infections in humans
Common Cold
Influenza
Hepatitis
West Nile
III. NAME SOME EXAMPLES OF DISEASES CAUSED BY EUKARYOTIC PATHOGENS IN THE
HUMAN POPULATION
8. Name two diseases caused by poor sanitation and/or contaminated water and their
pathogens:
Disease: Giardiasis
Pathogen: Giardia Lamblia
Disease: Malaria
Pathogen: Plasomdium
9. Define what a prion is and the disease is it associated with in humans and other
organisms.
A normally occurring protein produced by brain cells, that when misfolded, causes
spongiform encephalopathy
10. List the 5 ways of transmission of infectious agents.
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CHAPTER 15: IMMUNE SYSTEM, BACTERIA, VIRUSES AND OTHER PATHOGENS
STUDY GUIDE
1- Direct Contact 2- Indirect Contact 3- Vector- Borne Transmission 4- Inhalation 5- Ingestion
IV. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS REGARDING THE TWO NON-SPECIFIC LINES OF
DEFENSE OF THE BODY AND HOW THEY ACT TO PREVENT AND COMBAT INFECTION AND
DISEASE IN THE BODY.
11. Name the THREE lines of defense of the body against infectious particles.

o Skin and Mucous membranes
o White Blood Cells, Inflammation, Defensive Proteins, Fever
o Lymphocytes (specific)
11 a. Which of the above is specific? Lymphocytes
1*Skin
2*Microphage
3*Lymphocytes
12. What role does skin and mucous membrane play in prevention of infection?
Stops From entering – Rids body of it through: earwax, tears, vomiting, digestion, feces,
shedding (new skin), etc.
13. State how white blood cells, inflammation, defensive proteins and fever interact to
combat infection should pathogens invade the internal body.
WBC- eat and digest invader
Inflammation- brings blood cells → brings oxygen and nutrients
Defensive Proteins- can create holes in invader to fill with fluids and make burst (sidekickgets ready for the hero, nurse who prepares for the doctor)
Fever- Slows Pathogen reproduction and increases metabolic rate of healthy cells
V. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS REGARDING THE IMMUNE (SPECIFIC) REACTIONS
OF THE BODY AND HOW THEY ACT TO COMBAT INFECTION AND DISEASE.
14. What are the major components of the lymphatic system and how do they function?
B Lymphocytes – secrete antibodies
T Lymphocytes – attack head on
15. Briefly describe the origin of B-lymphocytes and their role in specific immunity.
B lymphocytes – create antibodies that bind and inactivate antigens
*b cells = bone marrow
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CHAPTER 15: IMMUNE SYSTEM, BACTERIA, VIRUSES AND OTHER PATHOGENS
STUDY GUIDE
16. Briefly describe the origin of T-lymphocytes and their role in specific immunity.
T Lymphocytes - don’t produce antibodies that bind and inactivate antigens
*t cells = thymus
17. Define the following terms:
humoral immunity- B-cell mediated immunity that occurs when a b cell receptor binds to an
antigen. B cell divides to produce a clonal population of memory cells; cell also produces
plasma cells
memory cells- cell that is part of a clonal population programmed to respond to a specific
antigen, that helps the body respond quickly if the infectious agent is encountered again
cell-mediated immunity- T-cells provide immunity that depends on the involvement of cells
rather than anti-bodies
antigen- molecules that are foreign to the host and stimulate the immune system to react
plasma cells- cell produced by a clonal population that secretes anti-bodies specific to an
antigen
antibody- bind and inactivate antigens- secreted proteins from b- cells
T-helper cells- t4 cells boosters of the immune response- detect invaders and alert both the b
and t cells that infection is occuring
antigen receptor- shape fits perfectly to a portion of the foreign molecule (key in lock)
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