Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Micro-organisms and diseases
- Some micro organisms are used to make dairy products and beer
- Micro organisms come in 4 main types-viruses, bacteria, protozoa and fungi
- Viruses are the smallest micro organisms and are responsible for diseases such as chickenpox and measles
- Bacteria are single celled, and need food, warmth and moisture to survive. They can multiply rapidly and are responsible for diseases such as whooping cough and pneumonia
- Protozoa are quite large and absorb nutrients from their surroundings. They cause malaria for one
- Fungi are the largest micro organisms and are sometimes used to make food and beer. They cause diseases like athletes foot and ringworm
- Bacteria and fungi also make food decay using substances they produce called enzymes
- The micro organisms also produce toxins which cause food poisioning
- The most dangerous bacteria that cause food poisioning are E. coli, Salmonella and Clostridium botulinium
- They are used to treat sewage, make dairy products, produce antibiotics, make alcohol and make bread
- Protection from diseases caused by micro organisms involves the immune system
- Our body detects threats and when it defeats them, it learns. This means that if we ever get attacked by the same thing again, we will be immune to it.
- To help us become immune to deadly diseases, the commonly used method is to get vaccinated. This is where we are injected with a dead form of the disease, so that our body can 'defeat it' and learn