40: Harmful effects of

microorganisms

Q&A

How do viruses cause diseases?

病毒如何致病 ?

All viruses are parasites. They use the host machinery in reproduction
and upset the physiological

balance of the infected cell. They kill the host cell when new viral
particles leave and burst the cells

and so resulting in disease.

所有病毒都是寄⽣者，它們利⽤寄主細胞的器材繁殖，擾亂寄主細胞的⽣
理平衡，當新病毒
粒⼦離開細胞時，會令細胞破裂，因⽽殺死細胞，因⽽致病。
How do bacteria cause diseases?
細菌如何致病 ?

Bacteria multiply among body cells and cause various types of tissue
damage. They may produce

enzymes to digest host tissues. Some release toxins into the tissue fluid
which is then circulated

throughout body by bloodstream, Bacterial toxins often cause fevers,

muscle spasms, vomiting,

diarrhea, heart damage and respiratory failure.

40: Harmful effects of microorganisms 1

 細菌在細胞間繁殖對組織做成破壞，它們會產⽣酶消化寄主組織，有些會
在組織釋放毒素隨
⾎流⾛遍全⾝，毒素會引致⾼熱，肌⾁痙攣，嘔吐，腹瀉、⼼臟受損和不
能呼吸。
How do protists cause diseases?
原⽣⽣物如何致病 ?

Protists include microscopic algae and protozoan. They cause disease

by producing toxins or by

releasing enzymes that disturb the normal functioning of the host cells.
Some invade the host cell

and cause massive death of it (eg. malaria).

原⽣⽣物包括微⼩的藻類及原⽣動物，它們可分泌毒素或釋出酶，⼲擾細
胞的正常運作，因
⽽致病，有些會⼊侵細胞(如瘧疾)，引致細胞⼤量死亡。
How do fungi cause diseases?
真菌如何致病?
Fungi grow on or just below the surface of the bodies of the patients.
They cause diseases by

secreting enzymes to break down the host tissues and absorb the
digested nutrients.

真菌居於患者⾝體表⾯或表⽪之下，它們會釋放酶以消化寄主組織，將溶
解了的養份吸收。
What are food-borne diseases?
什麼是⾷物傳染病 ?

Food-borne diseases are caused by eating food contaminated with

pathogens.

⾷物傳染病由進⾷受病原體污染的⾷物⽽引起。
There are two types: food-borne infections and food poisoning caused
by microbial toxins.

有兩種: ⾷物傳染和由微⽣物毒素引致的⾷物中毒。

40: Harmful effects of microorganisms 2

 Explain food-borne infection with a suitable example.
⽤例⼦解釋⾷物傳染。
Salmonellosis is a food-borne infection caused by bacteria of the genus
Salmonella.

沙⾨⽒菌病是⼀種由沙⾨⽒菌引起的⾷物傳染病。
The bacteria live in the intestine of infected humans and livestock such
as chickens and ducks.

Therefore, food contaminated by faeces may contain Salmonella

bacteria. The symptoms include

diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting and a slight fever.

此菌居於⼈類及牲畜(如雞和鴨)的腸道中，故此吃了受糞便污染的⾷物，
⼤有機會感染沙⾨
⽒菌，症狀包括:發燒、腹瀉和腹部抽筋。
Explain food poisoning caused by microbial toxins with a suitable example.
⽤例⼦解釋由微⽣物毒素引致的⾷物中毒。
Bacterial toxins細菌毒素:

Botulism is a type of food poisoning caused by a bacterium called

Clostridium. The bacterial toxin

is very toxic. Patients may have double vision and drooping eyelids,
slurred speech, dry mouth,

difficulty swallowing and weak muscles. Severe case is fatal.

⾁毒中毒(臘腸毒菌病)是⼀種由⾁毒桿菌引起的⾷物中毒，此毒素⾮常之
毒，患者會視⼒模
糊、眼瞼下垂、⾔語不清、⼝乾、吞嚥困難和肌⾁無⼒。嚴重時可致命。
What is microbial deterioration?
什麼是微⽣物引起的⽣物致劣 ?

Deterioration of food使⾷物腐爛：

Many are saprophytes. They cause food decay and food poisoning.

許多微⽣物是腐⽣者，它們引起⾷物的腐爛和⾷物中毒。
Deterioration of man's belongings腐爛⼈類的財物：

40: Harmful effects of microorganisms 3

 Wood, wool, fur, paper, leather goods may be decayed by saprophytic
micro-organisms.

腐⽣微⽣物會腐爛⽊材、⽺⽑、⽪草、紙張和⽪⾰等。
What happens to the foodstuff in food spoilage?
⾷物腐爛時⾷物本質有何轉變 ?

Most spoilage involves the breakdown of proteins, fats and

carbohydrates.

⼤部分的⾷物腐爛都有蛋⽩質、脂肪和碳⽔化合物的分解。
Proteins are hydrolyzed to amino acids, amines, ammonia and hydrogen
sulphide.

蛋⽩質被⽔解為氨基酸、胺、氨及硫化氫。
Fats are hydrolyzed to fatty acids and glycerol, while carbohydrates are
fermented into acids,

alcohols and gases.

脂肪被⽔解為脂肪酸和⽢油⽽碳⽔化合物發酵為各種的酸、酒精及氣體。
What are the favourable conditions for food spoilage?
⾷物在何情況下最易腐爛 ?

Food spoilage is more likely when the food is rich in nutrients, oxygen
and water are present and

temperature and pH conditions are suitable.

⾷物腐爛在以下情況最易發⽣﹕營養豐富的⾷物、氧氣和⽔分充⾜、溫度
及酸鹼度適中。
State some methods used to preserve food.
說出常⽤保存⾷物的⽅法。
Deep freezing, Refrigeration, Vacuum packing, Heating, Curing,
Pasteurization, Bottling and canning,

Osmotic dehydration, Picking, Drying,

冰凍法、冷藏法、真空處理法、⾼溫消毒法、煙燻法、巴斯德消毒法、瓶
藏及罐藏法、醃製
法、滲透脫⽔法、脫⽔法

40: Harmful effects of microorganisms 4

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