When you think of bacteria and microorganisms, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Typically, people go to the top shelf when thinking of germs and microbes. The words seem to inspire terror by recalling topics such as anthrax or Ebola or just chemical weapons in general. Would it surprise you to discover that many people do not know the difference between bacteria and a virus? Anthrax - being a disease caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis - and Ebola being a virus that isn 't even a living thing. While both bacteria and viruses can cause horrible diseases and crippling illnesses, the methods in which they do so are radically different.
Bacteria have a multitude of methods in which they induce illnesses. Some bacteria can directly attack your healthy cells and, in a sense, "eat" you. Other bacteria simply produce toxins as they are killed that make you sick. Viruses, on the other hand, are less easy to explain. While they are organic, they are technically non-living – as they have no means to replicate themselves. The best analogy is to think of them as little pieces of DNA that are just floating through the air. When these little strands of DNA come into contact with a host that they are compatible with, they essentially "bond" with the host 's DNA and alter it. This alteration causes the infected cells to go rogue and start behaving erratically. Typically, this incites an immune response in a healthy person.
Despite the terror and general grimness that
Bacterial and fungi infections are easy to cure with the use of antibiotics, where as viruses can be hard to cure or vaccinate against, such as the common cold. Bacteria can be found everywhere and anywhere Soil, Water, Plants, Animals, material and even deep in the earth's crust. Bacteria feed themselves by making there food with the use of sunlight and water. We would not be able to live without Bacteria. The human body consists of lots of friendly bacteria which also protect us from dangerous ones by occupying places in the body. Some of the most deadly diseases and devastating epidemics in human history have
Bloodborne pathogens are viruses that deteriorate cells within the body. A virus is a submicroscopic parasitic organism that feeds on cells. Viruses are dependent on cells for their nutrients so the virus survive and reproduce. Every virus consists of
West Nile Virus has emerged in recent years throughout the temporate zones of Europe and North America. Causing a variety of conditions in its hosts, the most serious manifestation of WN virus infection is fatal encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) in humans and horses, and many birds.
Viruses, Plagues, and History, written by Michael Oldstone, is an insightful and highly educational book that details the history of, that’s right, viruses and plagues. Through typically dry, yet engaging prose, Oldstone recounts what seems like all of it while simultaneously bringing to light the contributions of those brave scientists who asked themselves, “why.” He focuses his attention on some of the most notable viruses such as smallpox, yellow fever, measles, polio, and later he focuses on more contemporary battles against disease.
It 's bad or infectious bacteria that cause illness as they rapidly reproduce and produce a toxin that kills or mutates cells, bacteria is also self sufficient.
Bacteria - are micro-organisms that consist of only one cell. Bacteria multiply by splitting themselves in two, which is called a binary fission. Because of this they can increase in number rapidly. The majority are harmless, but some can be pathogenic which results in bacterial infection occuring. Bacterial infections can be treated by using antibiotics. Bacteria can evolve a resistance to antibiotic e.g. MRSA. Some diseases caused by bacteria include tuberculosis, pneumonia, salmonella, tetanus and syphilis.
One of the most complex and unexplored disease causing agents are viruses. They are known to be able to infect a wide array of organisms, from plants and animals, to bacteria and fungi. Essentially, anything that is living is capable of being infected with a virus. Once the host's cell is infected, the viruses' goal is to produce more viruses which will infect neighboring cells to continue the cycle.
For approximately three-thousand years, smallpox has ravaged and plagued the four corners of the globe. In fact, in the 17 th and 18 th centuries, it was claimed to be the most infectious disease in the West, with an astounding 90% mortality rate in America. It wasn't until 1796, with English surgeon Edward Jenner's smallpox vaccination, that the world saw relief from this devastating virus. However, even with this inoculation in use, the world continued to witness death from both the virus and the vaccine. In the year 1966, it was estimated that 10-15 million infected citizens world wide had passed away from smallpox that year alone ( “History” 12). As a result of these devastating numbers, in the following year, 1967, the World Health
The body responds differently to an infection, depending on whether it is a virus or a bacterial infection. Generally, viruses are considered to be more dangerous, but aside from generalities, there are also pathophysiological differences in the ways in which both viruses and bacteria (invasive organisms) infect human beings (hosts). When a virus is the agent that is infecting the host, the goal of the virus is to invade on a cellular level and replicate itself. “Once inside, the cells of the immune system cannot ‘see’ the virus and therefore do not know that the host cell is infected. To overcome this, cells employ a system that allows them to show other cells what is inside them” (Immune, 2015). The virus then uses the cell in order to make proteins and replicate itself, further compromising the immune system. The immune
Thesis: The plague was a vicious and terrorizing disease, which left a disastrous impact on the people in Europe as Asia making forcing every citizen to fend for themself regardless of who he or she were. I. The symptoms of the disease were horrifying A. The physical symptoms of the disease were morbid and terrifying. 1.
Viruses can do many different things to a body, they can destroy, corrupt, and take over cells in the body. They can damage parts of the body or make your body destroy itself, viruses are dangerous but sometimes can be cured. Viruses do not have the enzymes needed to carry out life so
A lot of the time when a virus come into contact with the host or as we may know it, the cell, it can insert its genetic material into its host, literally taking over the host's functions. Some viruses may remain dormant inside host cells for long periods, causing no obvious change in their host cells, but once stimulated new viruses are formed, self-assemble, and burst out of the host cell, killing the cell and going on to infect other cells. All this is just a constant battle between the host and cell. Without a host cell, viruses cannot carry out their life-sustaining functions or reproduce. They cannot synthesize proteins, because they lack ribosomes and must use the ribosomes of their host cells to translate viral messenger RNA into viral proteins. Viruses cannot generate or store energy, but have to derive their energy, and all other metabolic functions, from the host cell. Sometimes the virus will not be in the cell but outside functioning as coat for the protein. Viruses cause a number of diseases in humans most commonly heard of ones are, smallpox, the common cold, chickenpox, influenza, shingles, herpes, polio, rabies, ebola, hanta fever, and AIDS are examples of the diseases caused by viruses. Even some types of cancer but not all. As Sun Tzu wrote in The Art of War, “All warfare is based on deception”. He could have easily been describing the ancient battle between virus and host
The large, double-stranded DNA genome of the Variola virus, which uses its genome to distract the host’s innate immune responses, was greatly observed by Edward Jenner to create a vaccine against smallpox using the cowpox virus. This form of immunization was shared by Jenner to many others in the hopes of ending the deadly virus. Then, Henderson worked with three advantages which lead to smallpox eradication. First, a low-cost, heat-stable vaccine and a bifurcated needle to go with it. Second, a disease that is easily diagnosed due to its’ signature rash. Lastly, the fact that there are no other reservoirs for the virus other than humans and that there are no asymptomatic carriers. This allowed for the implementation of the surveillance-containment
An invisible organism enters your body. It penetrates into your tissues and then takes over the machinery in your own cells to make more copies of itself. This tiny infiltrator works silently, producing thousands of these clones that fill up the cell and cause it to explode. The clones mercilessly continue the process of invading, taking over and destroying cells. The result might be a minor inconvenience to you as the host, or it could result in a slow or rapid death. It depends only on which variant of this unwanted infiltrator overcomes your body’s defenses. There are cures to wipe out some types of these invisible intruders, but others are so difficult to eradicate or so readily adaptable, that the world’s greatest scientists
Hanta virus is a dangerous and often deadly disease that must be guarded against. If proper precautions are not taken, hanta virus could lead to a nationwide outbreak causing many deaths. While there are a few cases of hanta virus reported each year, the consequences of coming down with the disease dictates that the U.S. set up certain safeguards to educate the population on how to protect themselves. Even though research is being done on hanta virus and its related illnesses, there persist many unanswered questions.