Unit 12 assignment 1- infectious and non-infectious diseases.
Scenario
Your local hospital is offering clinical insight work experience placements to Key Stage 5 students who are planning
to pursue a career in pharmacy, physiotherapy, or nursing. Places are very limited, and the selection process is
rigorous. Applicants are required to conduct research into different types of infectious agents, the causes of non-
infectious diseases and the relationship between disease progression and the effects of this on human health.
From your research, you must produce two separate case studies relating to the disease processes involved in
infectious and non-infectious diseases.
Task
Carry out research into infectious, genetic, degenerative, dietary, and environmental diseases. Then build two
separate case studies which include detailed analysis of how an infectious and a non-infectious disease progress
over time.
Infectious case study:
A. As part of a written introduction to infectious illness in humans you are to explain the characteristics of
the five main types of pathogens and include a disease caused by each.
Bacteria
Viruses
Parasites
Fungus
Protozoa
Infectious and non-infectious diseases-
Diseases are problems that affect people’s metal and physical wellbeing. Diseases have affects
on the body which changes a person’s functions of the body. With these diseases, they can be
categorized into 2 groups- infectious and non-infectious diseases. Infectious diseases can be
infected to other individuals and organisms whereas non-infectious diseases cannot be infected
by contact.
Infectious case study
Infectious diseases can be spread around, making other people vulnerable to an infection. The
cause of infectious diseases is from pathogens. There are 5 main pathogens- Bacteria, viruses,
parasites, fungus, and protozoa.
Characteristics of the 5 main types of pathogens:
Bacteria-
Bacteria is a type of pathogen that is single-cellular organism. Their characteristics are that
bacteria has no membrane or membrane bound organelles, such as chloroplasts and
mitochondria. They are unicellular and usually small in size. Most bacteria, but not all, are
prokaryotic. Bacteria is found exterior or interior on animals, plants and humans. The life cycle
of bacteria starts by one bateria cell dividing into two identical cells. Then, after the first
division stage- bacteria starts to increase very quickly, and with a food source then can live long
and not die. There is also a stage in the life cycle of bacteria called the lag stage. The lag stage is
a stage in the life cycle of bacteria where the bacteria adapt themselves to the growing
conditions they are in. The after the lag phase comes the log phase. The log phase is a stage in
the life cycle of bacteria where the cells double, causing an increase in bacteria numbers.
,A common bacteria disease is Syphilis. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by
bacteria. Syphilis is caused by a bacterium named Treponema pallidum. Treponema pallidum
has very unique genotypes, being very circular which is different to most prokaryotes. Syphilis
is cause by treponema pallidum and is then spread to other people. The most commonly way
syphilis is spread is through sexual contact, when one of the partners involved in sexual activity
has the disease. Syphilis does have symptoms, such as small, painless sores or ulcers that
typically appear on the penis, vagina, or around the anus, but can occur in other places such as
the mouth, a blotchy red rash that can affect the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet,
that may develop on the vulva in women or the anus in both men and women and white
patches in the mouth can be a symptom too. Luckily there are treatments, all being medical. If
syphilis is caught early on, it is easy to treat. A single intramuscular injection of long acting
Benzathine penicillin can cure a person if the disease is caught early on or hasn’t spread quickly.
To avoid catching the disease again, or spreading it or somebody else, doctors advise that you
should not have any sexual relations for 2 weeks.
Virus-
Viruses are one of the most common biological entities. Their characteristics being that they are
acellular, consist of DNA or RNA but not both, contains a protein called capsid and they can only
reproduce when they are inside of a host cell. Viruses are classed as non-living organisms as
they have to rely on other organisms for survival and reproduction. Viruses can infect all kinds
of organisms from animals, plants, and people. The life cycle of a virus can be divided into 6
steps. attachment, penetration, uncoating, gene expression and replication, assembly, and
release. The first step is attachments- the virus starts off by attaching itself to its host. Then,
penetration occurs by the viral DNA entering the hosts cells. Biosynthesis is then carried out by
phage DNA is replicated and phage proteins are then made. After this happens, maturation
happens, this is when new phage particles are assembled. The final stage of the life cycle for
viruses is lysis. This is when the cells lysis. This then releases newly made phages.
A disease caused by a virus is HIV (human immunodeficiency disease). HIV is a virus that
attacks a person’s immune system. HIV is a retrovirus, which means that it stores its genetic
information as RNA rather than as DNA. HIV can be extremely dangerous as HIV can progress
into AIDS if left untreated. AIDS is dangerous as it has really bad health impacts on your
immune system, with the risk of inflammation of the brain, and spinal cord as well as your
immune system being unable to fight off diseases and infections. HIV is spread in many ways,
for example a through sexual contact, bodily fluid (like semen, vaginal fluid and breastmilk). It is
most common that a person with HIV spreading it to another person through blood and bodily
fluid. Sadly, there is no cure for HIV, but there are medications that are taken. If HIV is
detected/ diagnosed , then post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is prescribed to a patient. PEP is a
medication used very early on, and is taken everyday for a month once prescribed. Usually
before you start your HIV treatment, you'll have regular blood tests to monitor the progress of
, the HIV infection. This is so that doctors know what medication to give to you. There any many
ways to prevent HIV, and they are always encouraged as HIV is a life-threatening disease which
can be very hard to tret if it is left untreated. Using male condoms is the main protection
against HIV and even any other STI’s, this is because condoms are protection, and you cannot
catch HIV whilst practicing safe sex. Limiting your sexual partners and being regularly tested are
very effective ways of catching and spreading HIV. If you have symptoms and do the right thing
by getting tested, you can save somebody else and stop yourself from spreading the virus.
Parasites-
Parasites are organisms that live on or inside of a host. Parasites feed off of their host for
survival. Parasites can cause harm to people as they are adapted to do so. However, they very
rarely kill their host because of how much they depend on them, but the host can become
mildly ill to seriously ill. There are 4 main types of parasites- protozoa, helminths, and
ectoparasites. Different parasites can either be a endoparasite or an epiparasite.. An
ectoparasite is a parasite that lives inside of a host, this means they live inside of the human
body and feeds from them. An example of an ectoparasite is a tapeworm An epiparasite is a
parasite that lives on the body of its host to feed and survive. An example of an epiparasite is a
flea. The life cycle of a parasite can be divided into phases of growth, reproduction, and
transmission. The growth stage requires a host so that the parasite can feed and live. After the
growth phase, the parasite can reproduce and multiply in numbers. Most parasites reproduce
asexually, but they can switch to sexual reproduction to encourage diversity and to remain
infectious. This then leads to the transmission phase, which is the last phase which allows the
spread of the parasites to other hosts.
A common parasite is trichomoniasis. Trichomoniasis is an STI caused by a tiny parasite called
Trichomonas vaginalis (TV). Trichomoniasis is caused by a parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis
that can live in semen or vaginal fluids. TV is spread through people who have the disease and
have unprotected vaginal or anal sex, this then causes the other person involved in sexual
activity to become infected to. There are symptoms of trichomoniasis, which are different in
men and women. Women can experience symptoms such as abnormal vaginal discharge that
may be thick, thin or frothy in consistency and yellow-green in colour producing more discharge
than normal, which can have an unpleasant fishy smell. Men can experience pain when peeing
or during ejaculation, needing to pee more frequently than usual and thin, white discharge
from the penis. Trichomoniasis can be treated, a course of antibiotics works and cures a patient
if they take the antibiotics as recommended and for the full course.
Fungus-
Fungus/ fungi are multicellular eukaryotic organisms that are heterotrophs meaning that they
cannot make their own food. They are classified as their own kingdom which is separate from
different kings or eukaryotic organisms. The characteristics of fungi is that fungi can reproduce
both sexually and asexually. They have plant like characteristics because they are both
immobile, thy both have cells walls and they grow in soil. A common fungal infection is athlete’s
foot. Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that is caused by fungi that normally live on the skin,
hair, and nails called dermatophytes. When the area that the fungi live in gets too moist and
Scenario
Your local hospital is offering clinical insight work experience placements to Key Stage 5 students who are planning
to pursue a career in pharmacy, physiotherapy, or nursing. Places are very limited, and the selection process is
rigorous. Applicants are required to conduct research into different types of infectious agents, the causes of non-
infectious diseases and the relationship between disease progression and the effects of this on human health.
From your research, you must produce two separate case studies relating to the disease processes involved in
infectious and non-infectious diseases.
Task
Carry out research into infectious, genetic, degenerative, dietary, and environmental diseases. Then build two
separate case studies which include detailed analysis of how an infectious and a non-infectious disease progress
over time.
Infectious case study:
A. As part of a written introduction to infectious illness in humans you are to explain the characteristics of
the five main types of pathogens and include a disease caused by each.
Bacteria
Viruses
Parasites
Fungus
Protozoa
Infectious and non-infectious diseases-
Diseases are problems that affect people’s metal and physical wellbeing. Diseases have affects
on the body which changes a person’s functions of the body. With these diseases, they can be
categorized into 2 groups- infectious and non-infectious diseases. Infectious diseases can be
infected to other individuals and organisms whereas non-infectious diseases cannot be infected
by contact.
Infectious case study
Infectious diseases can be spread around, making other people vulnerable to an infection. The
cause of infectious diseases is from pathogens. There are 5 main pathogens- Bacteria, viruses,
parasites, fungus, and protozoa.
Characteristics of the 5 main types of pathogens:
Bacteria-
Bacteria is a type of pathogen that is single-cellular organism. Their characteristics are that
bacteria has no membrane or membrane bound organelles, such as chloroplasts and
mitochondria. They are unicellular and usually small in size. Most bacteria, but not all, are
prokaryotic. Bacteria is found exterior or interior on animals, plants and humans. The life cycle
of bacteria starts by one bateria cell dividing into two identical cells. Then, after the first
division stage- bacteria starts to increase very quickly, and with a food source then can live long
and not die. There is also a stage in the life cycle of bacteria called the lag stage. The lag stage is
a stage in the life cycle of bacteria where the bacteria adapt themselves to the growing
conditions they are in. The after the lag phase comes the log phase. The log phase is a stage in
the life cycle of bacteria where the cells double, causing an increase in bacteria numbers.
,A common bacteria disease is Syphilis. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by
bacteria. Syphilis is caused by a bacterium named Treponema pallidum. Treponema pallidum
has very unique genotypes, being very circular which is different to most prokaryotes. Syphilis
is cause by treponema pallidum and is then spread to other people. The most commonly way
syphilis is spread is through sexual contact, when one of the partners involved in sexual activity
has the disease. Syphilis does have symptoms, such as small, painless sores or ulcers that
typically appear on the penis, vagina, or around the anus, but can occur in other places such as
the mouth, a blotchy red rash that can affect the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet,
that may develop on the vulva in women or the anus in both men and women and white
patches in the mouth can be a symptom too. Luckily there are treatments, all being medical. If
syphilis is caught early on, it is easy to treat. A single intramuscular injection of long acting
Benzathine penicillin can cure a person if the disease is caught early on or hasn’t spread quickly.
To avoid catching the disease again, or spreading it or somebody else, doctors advise that you
should not have any sexual relations for 2 weeks.
Virus-
Viruses are one of the most common biological entities. Their characteristics being that they are
acellular, consist of DNA or RNA but not both, contains a protein called capsid and they can only
reproduce when they are inside of a host cell. Viruses are classed as non-living organisms as
they have to rely on other organisms for survival and reproduction. Viruses can infect all kinds
of organisms from animals, plants, and people. The life cycle of a virus can be divided into 6
steps. attachment, penetration, uncoating, gene expression and replication, assembly, and
release. The first step is attachments- the virus starts off by attaching itself to its host. Then,
penetration occurs by the viral DNA entering the hosts cells. Biosynthesis is then carried out by
phage DNA is replicated and phage proteins are then made. After this happens, maturation
happens, this is when new phage particles are assembled. The final stage of the life cycle for
viruses is lysis. This is when the cells lysis. This then releases newly made phages.
A disease caused by a virus is HIV (human immunodeficiency disease). HIV is a virus that
attacks a person’s immune system. HIV is a retrovirus, which means that it stores its genetic
information as RNA rather than as DNA. HIV can be extremely dangerous as HIV can progress
into AIDS if left untreated. AIDS is dangerous as it has really bad health impacts on your
immune system, with the risk of inflammation of the brain, and spinal cord as well as your
immune system being unable to fight off diseases and infections. HIV is spread in many ways,
for example a through sexual contact, bodily fluid (like semen, vaginal fluid and breastmilk). It is
most common that a person with HIV spreading it to another person through blood and bodily
fluid. Sadly, there is no cure for HIV, but there are medications that are taken. If HIV is
detected/ diagnosed , then post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is prescribed to a patient. PEP is a
medication used very early on, and is taken everyday for a month once prescribed. Usually
before you start your HIV treatment, you'll have regular blood tests to monitor the progress of
, the HIV infection. This is so that doctors know what medication to give to you. There any many
ways to prevent HIV, and they are always encouraged as HIV is a life-threatening disease which
can be very hard to tret if it is left untreated. Using male condoms is the main protection
against HIV and even any other STI’s, this is because condoms are protection, and you cannot
catch HIV whilst practicing safe sex. Limiting your sexual partners and being regularly tested are
very effective ways of catching and spreading HIV. If you have symptoms and do the right thing
by getting tested, you can save somebody else and stop yourself from spreading the virus.
Parasites-
Parasites are organisms that live on or inside of a host. Parasites feed off of their host for
survival. Parasites can cause harm to people as they are adapted to do so. However, they very
rarely kill their host because of how much they depend on them, but the host can become
mildly ill to seriously ill. There are 4 main types of parasites- protozoa, helminths, and
ectoparasites. Different parasites can either be a endoparasite or an epiparasite.. An
ectoparasite is a parasite that lives inside of a host, this means they live inside of the human
body and feeds from them. An example of an ectoparasite is a tapeworm An epiparasite is a
parasite that lives on the body of its host to feed and survive. An example of an epiparasite is a
flea. The life cycle of a parasite can be divided into phases of growth, reproduction, and
transmission. The growth stage requires a host so that the parasite can feed and live. After the
growth phase, the parasite can reproduce and multiply in numbers. Most parasites reproduce
asexually, but they can switch to sexual reproduction to encourage diversity and to remain
infectious. This then leads to the transmission phase, which is the last phase which allows the
spread of the parasites to other hosts.
A common parasite is trichomoniasis. Trichomoniasis is an STI caused by a tiny parasite called
Trichomonas vaginalis (TV). Trichomoniasis is caused by a parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis
that can live in semen or vaginal fluids. TV is spread through people who have the disease and
have unprotected vaginal or anal sex, this then causes the other person involved in sexual
activity to become infected to. There are symptoms of trichomoniasis, which are different in
men and women. Women can experience symptoms such as abnormal vaginal discharge that
may be thick, thin or frothy in consistency and yellow-green in colour producing more discharge
than normal, which can have an unpleasant fishy smell. Men can experience pain when peeing
or during ejaculation, needing to pee more frequently than usual and thin, white discharge
from the penis. Trichomoniasis can be treated, a course of antibiotics works and cures a patient
if they take the antibiotics as recommended and for the full course.
Fungus-
Fungus/ fungi are multicellular eukaryotic organisms that are heterotrophs meaning that they
cannot make their own food. They are classified as their own kingdom which is separate from
different kings or eukaryotic organisms. The characteristics of fungi is that fungi can reproduce
both sexually and asexually. They have plant like characteristics because they are both
immobile, thy both have cells walls and they grow in soil. A common fungal infection is athlete’s
foot. Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that is caused by fungi that normally live on the skin,
hair, and nails called dermatophytes. When the area that the fungi live in gets too moist and
