B6 Microorganisms and Disease

Bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa.

Viruses are not cells - protein coat around strand of genetic material.

Can only reproduce inside living cells, so must infect organisms to multiply.

Viruses can infect plant, animal and bacterial cells.

A particular type of virus will only attack specific cells.

• Virus attaches onto specific host cell and injects genetic materal into cell
• Virus uses host cell to make components of new viruses
• Causes host cell to split open releasing new viruses

Diseases can be transmitted in different ways:

• In food - food poisoning, illness from eating bacteria-contaminated food, prevented by good…