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NSWBiologyQuick questions
Module 7: Infectious Disease
Quick questions on Causes of infectious disease and pathogen types: HSC Biology Module 7
7short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is structure?Show answer
Misfolded proteins. No nucleic acid, no cell structure.
What is mechanism?Show answer
A prion induces normal cellular proteins (often PrP in nervous tissue) to misfold into the same abnormal shape, creating aggregates that destroy brain tissue.
What are examples?Show answer
Influenza A (RNA virus, respiratory), HIV (retrovirus, immune cells), tobacco mosaic virus (plant pathogen affecting tomato and tobacco leaves).
What are generic disease names?Show answer
"A virus" or "a bacterium" scores no marks. Use full scientific names where possible.
What is q1?Show answer
Classify the following pathogens by type: (a) Bacillus anthracis, (b) Plasmodium falciparum, (c) HIV, (d) Cordyceps fungus. [4 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
A new disease outbreak in NSW poultry shows symptoms within 48 hours. Electron microscopy reveals 80 nm enveloped particles with a single-stranded RNA genome. Identify the most likely pathogen type and explain two control strategies.
What is q3?Show answer
Compare bacteria and viruses. (a) Describe one structural difference. (b) Describe one reproductive difference.
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