Biology Unit 1 Section 3.1.

1
Microorganisms as Pathogens
To be considered a pathogen it must:

Gain entry
Colonise the tissues
Resist the defences
Cause damage to the tissues

Pathogens include bacteria, viruses and fungi

How do microorganisms enter the body

Many pathogens enter through the gas exchange system (including ones that cause flu and
TB)
Food and water can carry pathogens into the stomach and intestines via the mouth and into
the digestive system (including ones that cause cholera)

Preventing pathogens entering

Mucous layer that covers the exchange surfaces and forms a thick sticky barrier that is
difficult to penetrate
Enzymes that break down pathogens
Stomach acid which kills pathogens

How do pathogens cause disease

By damaging host tissues the sheer number of pathogens causes damage and stops tissues
functioning properly e.g. viruses stop DNA and RNA synthesis
By producing toxins most bacteria produce toxins which cause damage to the body e.g.
the cholera bacterium produces a toxin which leads to diarrhoea

Correlations and causal relationships

REMEMBER CORRELATION DOESN T MEAN CAUSATION
Data that shows there is a correlation between two variables e.g. cancer and smoking can
never prove that smoking is the cause of cancer so therefore always look at it critically as it
could be that stress is the cause and people smoke to help with stress nothing can be explicitly
proved!

Factors that increase the risk of cancer

Smoking if they smoke the risk is higher

Diet low fat and high fibre rich in fruit and vegetables lowers risk
Obesity if someone is overweight the risk is higher
Physical activity more of this lowers risk

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Sunlight more someone is exposed to sunbeds or sunlight (without sun cream) the greater
the risk

Factors that increase the risk of CHD

If you smoke
If you have high blood pressure
If your blood cholesterol is high
If youre obese
Diet if you have a high amount of salt this increases blood pressure which increases the
risk and if you have a high amount of saturated fatty acids this increases blood cholesterol
which increases risk
If you dont do a lot of physical activity

Therefore you can reduce the risk of CHD and cancer by:
Giving up or not taking up smoking
Avoiding becoming overweight
Reducing salt intake in the diet
Reducing saturated fats in the diet
Doing regular exercise
Keeping alcohol consumption within the recommended limits
Increasing intake of fibre and antioxidants in the diet

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