Pathogens

By: Arihant

Under Guidance: Seema Ma’am

Objectives:
• What is Pathogens.
• Type of Pathogens.
• To describe the differences between viruses and
bacteria.
• The structure of bacteria and viruses.
• How Pathogens Cause Disease.
• How do pathogens spread.
So what is a pathogen ?
A pathogen is a disease causing microbe.
These can be caused by bacteria or virus.

Infectious diseases are found all over the

world. They are caused by a microorganism
entering and attacking the body.

If you can pass the microorganism on this

means you are infectious.
 Types of Pathogens
Indirectly transmitted – animals or insects serve as vectors carrying
the pathogens from one host to the next.
• -Ticks
• -Mosquitoes

• Different types of pathogens may include:

• -Bacteria
• -Viruses
• -Fungi
• -Protozoa
• -Parasitic worms

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 Bacteria
Bacteria – single-celled organism that usually reproduce by
splitting in two to create a pair of identical cells.

-Most abundant living things on earth

-Helpful and harmful
-Helpful bacteria: produce vitamins

help digest nutrients keep harmful bacteria in check by competing

for food and resources secreting substances toxic to pathogenic
bacteria
-Harmful bacteria –>causes deadly diseases 4
 Virus
Virus – a very small infectious agent composed of nucleic acid
surrounded by a protein coat; lacks an independent metabolism and
reproduces only within a host cell.

-Inside the host cell, it sheds its protein covering, and its
genetic material takes control of the cell and creates more viruses.
-Most common form of contagious disease

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Types of bacteria

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The structure of bacteria
The structure of a virus
 How pathogens cause disease
•Once these pathogens are inside your
body they cause disease because they
reproduce rapidly.

•Bacteria do this by splitting in two. They

often produce toxins at the same time.

•Viruses actually take over cells,

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damaging and destroying them.
How do pathogens spread ?

• Droplets spread by sneezes, coughs, or simply

talking can transmit disease if they come in
contact with mucous membranes of the eye,
mouth, or nose of another person. Contact:
Some diseases spread via direct contact with
infected skin, mucous membranes, or body
fluids.
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Thankyou