What Is This Module About?

Bacteria and viruses

We are accustomed to thinking of ourselves as complex organisms and that view is correct.
By comparison, therefore, there must be simpler organisms. These include the bacteria and
viruses which we will discuss in this module. As you read along, you will learn all about them —
their structure as well as their importance in your life.
This module is made up of four lessons:
Lesson 1 – Viruses: Are They Alive?
Lesson 2 – AIDS: A Dreaded Disease
Lesson 3 – Bacteria: What Are They?
Lesson 4 – Bacteria: Friend or Foe?

What Will You Learn From This Module?

After studying this module, you should be able to:

♦ define what viruses and bacteria are;
♦ describe their structure;
♦ explain how they reproduce and cause diseases; and
♦ identify some uses of viruses and bacteria.

1
 Let’s See What You Already Know

Before you start studying this module, take this simple test first to find out how much you
already know about the topics in this module.
Fill in the blanks with the correct answers. Write the letters of the correct answers only.
______ 1. _____ are infectious particles consisting of a core of DNA or RNA enclosed
in a protein shell only visible under an electron microscope that invade the cells
of animals, plants and bacteria and can only survive and reproduce within such
cells.
a. Viruses
b. Bacteria
c. Protists
d. Fungi
______ 2. _____ are microscopic, usually single-celled organisms that occur in soil,
water and air including many parasitic species that cause numerous infectious
diseases.
a. Viruses
b. Bacteria
c. Protists
d. Fungi
______ 3. _____ is a disease caused by infection with HIV transmitted in blood, semen
and vaginal fluids which destroys the immune system leaving the body
susceptible to potentially fatal infections.
a. AIDS
b. Chicken pox
c. Cholera
d. Syphilis
______ 4. ______ is an infectious viral disease which mainly affects children
characterized by a fever and an itchy rash of dark red spots.
a. AIDS
b. Chicken pox
c. Cholera
d. Syphilis

2
______ 5. ______ is a highly infectious viral infection with symptoms including headache,
fever, sore throat, catarrh and muscular aches and pains.
a. Chicken pox
b. Flu
c. Syphilis
d. Tetanus
______ 6. ______ is an acute and potentially fatal bacterial infection of the small intestine
characterized by severe vomiting and diarrhea and caused by ingestion of
contaminated food or water.
a. Chicken pox
b. Flu
c. Cholera
d. Tetanus
______ 7. ______ is a sexually transmitted disease caused by bacterial infection and
characterized by painless ulcers on the genitals, fever and a faint red rash
which if left untreated may eventually result in heart damage, blindness,
paralysis and death.
a. Chicken pox
b. Flu
c. Syphilis
d. Tetanus
______ 8. ______ is an infectious and potentially fatal disease caused by the release of
toxins from a bacterium, the spores of which are found in soil.
a. Chicken pox
b. Flu
c. Syphilis
d. Tetanus
______ 9. Which of the following is a way by which viruses help us?
a. Aid in sewage treatment by using sewage as food
b. Studies on which have contributed greatly to understanding the body’s
immune response to infectious agents
c. Decompose organisms and help keep water free from pollution
d. Aid in the preparation of food and drinks such as cheese, yogurt,
sauerkraut, coffee, tea, pickles and sour cream

3
 ______10. Which of the following is a way by which bacteria help us?
a. Used as model systems in order to study the replication systems of higher-
order organisms such as animals and humans
b. Studies on which have contributed greatly to understanding the body’s
immune response to infectious agents
c. Isolated then produced in large amounts for use as vaccines
d. Build soil fertility

Well, how was it? Do you think you fared well? Compare your answers with those in the
Answer Key on page 39 to find out.
If all your answers are correct, very good! This shows that you already know much about
the topics in this module. You may still study the module to review what you already know. Who
knows, you might learn a few more new things as well.
If you got a low score, don’t feel bad. This only shows that this module is for you. It will
help you understand some important concepts that you can apply in your daily life. If you study
this module carefully, you will learn the answers to all the items in the test and a lot more! Are you
ready?
You may go now to the next page to begin Lesson 1.

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 LESSON 1

Viruses: Are They Alive?

When was the last time you had a cold or the flu? Maybe you had measles or chicken pox
when you were younger. Did you know that viruses cause these diseases? Think about the
following questions as you learn more:
1. What are viruses?
2. How do viruses cause diseases?

Let’s Study and Analyze

Look at the pictures below. They show different viral diseases. Are you familiar with some if
not all of them? Have you ever had any one of these diseases before?

Chicken pox (Varicellovirus) Flu (Orthomyxovirus)

Mumps (Paramyxovirus) Polio (Picornavirus)

5
 Describe your experience, if any, of having any one of the viral diseases mentioned on the
previous page. Write your answer in the space provided below.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Let your Instructional Manager or Facilitator check your work.

Let’s Learn

Do you know what viruses are?

Viruses are smaller than any known cell. In fact, if people were the size of a typical virus,
then 225 million of them would fit on the head of a pin!
To observe the structure of viruses, life scientists must use an electron microscope. This
powerful instrument magnifies viruses thousands of times.
If you could look at some viruses, you would notice that they differ greatly in shape but are
quite similar in structure. They are made of a protein coat which surrounds a core of either DNA
or RNA. They lack a nucleus and cytoplasm.
Viruses are not cells and are not made of cells. By themselves, they do not reproduce,
respond to changes, use energy or grow. However, when a virus enters a living host’s cell, the
virus is able to reproduce. It uses the host’s cell parts to reproduce itself.

The different shapes of viruses

Viruses can cause a number of diseases such as smallpox, the common cold, chicken pox,
influenza, shingles, herpes, polio, rabies, Ebola, hanta fever and AIDS. In fact, even some types
of cancer—though definitely not all—have been linked to viruses.

6
 It has been hypothesized that viruses may be responsible for the extinction of dinosaurs and
other life-forms. This theory is hard to test but seems unlikely since a given virus can typically
cause a disease only in one species or in a group of related species. So, even a hypothetical virus
that could infect and kill all dinosaurs 65 million years ago could not have infected the ammonites
or foraminifera that also went extinct at the same time.

Dinosaurs and other life-forms centuries ago

Let’s Think About This

Did you know that the viral disease, smallpox, plagued human beings for thousands of
years? However, in October 1979, members of the World Health Organization gathered in
Kenya to announce that the world was officially free from smallpox.

7
 Let’s Learn

How can viruses affect you?

Let us take the flu virus as an example. Look at the following diagram to learn about this.

Flu virus infection

Flu viruses enter your nose and mouth first and travel to a cell along your throat or lungs.
Notice that the flu virus enters a throat or lung cell. Once inside, the flu virus takes over the host
cell’s metabolism, causing it to make more flu viruses. In effect, the flu virus converts the host cell
into a “flu virus factory.” After thousands of flu viruses form, the host cell often dies. The new flu
viruses, as you see, spread and invade other cells. As the process continues over and over again,
many throat and lung cells are destroyed. When this process happens, you probably begin to feel
sick.
Different viruses attack different parts of the body. Chicken pox and measles viruses attack
cells of the skin and cause a red rash. Cold viruses invade cells that line the nose and throat
causing stuffiness and sneezing.
Some viruses infect bacteria, plants, insects and other living things. They can cause death or
damage to these organisms too.

Let’s Review

Recall the various stages that can lead a person to be infected with the flu virus. Rearrange
the stages below to show their proper order. Number the first stage 1, the second stage 2 and so
on.
_______ a. Viruses enter a person’s nose and mouth.
_______ b. Viruses enter a living cell.
_______ c. New viruses form and spread to other cells.

8
 _______ d. Viruses attach themselves to the cell.
_______ e. Viruses take over the cell’s metabolism.
Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on page 39. Did you get a perfect
score? If you did, that’s very good. If you didn’t, don’t worry. Just review the parts you made
mistakes in before going to the next part of the lesson.

Let’s Learn

What other viral infections do you know of?

Given below are some other common diseases/illnesses caused by viruses.
1. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) — caused by a retrovirus known
as the human immune deficiency (immunodeficiency) virus (HIV). This will be
discussed in detail in the following lesson.
2. Chicken pox — caused by a herpesvirus known as the varicellovirus. This is
characterized by an itchy rash which then forms blisters that dry up and become scabs
in four to five days. The rash may be the first sign of illness sometimes coupled with
fever and general malaise which is usually more severe in adults. An infected person
may have anywhere from only a few lesions to more than 500 lesions on his/her body
during an attack. Chicken pox is usually mild but may be severe in infants, adults and
persons with impaired immune systems. Almost everyone gets chicken pox by
adulthood. Chicken pox is highly contagious. The virus spreads from person to person
by direct contact or through the air.
3. Influenza — commonly called the “flu,” is one of the oldest and most common
diseases known to man. It is caused by the orthomyxovirus and is an acute respiratory
illness. It is most often a mild viral infection transmitted by respiratory secretions
through sneezing or coughing. Its symptoms include fever (often higher in children),
cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, muscle aches and often extreme
fatigue. Most people recover completely within one to two weeks. However,
compared with other viral respiratory infections like common colds, influenza causes
more severe complications such as pneumonia particularly in children, elderly people
and other vulnerable groups.

9
 Let’s Try This

Study the characteristics of viral infections in the box below. Classify them as to which of the
three diseases — AIDS, chicken pox or influenza — they describe. Then write them under the
proper headings in the table provided.

retrovirus general malaise usually more severe in adults

varicellovirus acute respiratory illness
flu usually mild but may be severe in infants, adults
and persons with impaired immune systems
HIV
mild viral infection transmitted by respiratory
itchy rash
secretions through sneezing or coughing
orthomyxovirus

AIDS Chicken Pox Influenza

Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on page 39. Did you get all the
correct answers? If you did, that’s very good. If you didn’t, don’t worry. Just reread the previous
section before going to the next part of the lesson.

Did you know that . . .

. . . even if viruses are generally harmful to humans, they also have good uses such as:
1. they are used as model systems in order to study the replication systems of higher-
order organisms such as animals and humans;
2. studies on them have contributed greatly to understanding the body’s immune
response to infectious agents; and
3. they are isolated then produced in large amounts for use as vaccines.

10
 Let’s See What You Have Learned

Answer the following questions briefly.

1. How do viruses differ from living things?
a. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
2. State how the flu virus can infect a person.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
3. Identify the three viral infections that were mentioned in the lesson and give a brief
description of each.
a. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
c. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
4. List down the three uses of viruses in the spaces provided below.
a. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
c. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on page 40. Did you get all the right
answers? If you did, that’s very good. If you didn’t, don’t worry. Just review the parts of the
lesson you didn’t understand very well before going to Lesson 2.

11
Let’s Remember

♦ Viruses are infectious particles consisting of a core of DNA or RNA enclosed in a

protein shell only visible under an electron microscope that invade the cells of animals,
plants and bacteria and can only survive and reproduce within such cells.
♦ An electron microscope is a microscope which operates using a beam of electrons
rather than a beam of light capable of very high magnification.
♦ The following are some of the most well-known viral infections:
1. AIDS;
2. chicken pox; and
3. influenza.
♦ Aside from spreading infectious diseases, viruses can be helpful too.
1. They are used as model systems in order to study the replication systems of
higher-order organisms such as animals and humans.
2. Studies on viruses have contributed greatly to understanding the body’s immune
response to infectious agents.
3. They are isolated then produced in large amounts for use as vaccines.

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 LESSON 2

AIDS: A Dreaded Disease

AIDS is a disease that up to now has no known cure. Although many Filipinos believe that
this disease occurs only in other countries, the fact is, as many as 30000 to 40000 Filipinos may
already be infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. This lesson will teach you all about
AIDS — how it is acquired and how it ravages the body. Learning about AIDS is very important,
what you know about this disease may save your life.

Let’s Try This

Determine which of the following are facts and which are myths. Write F in the blank if the
statement is factual and M if it is mythical.
______ 1. The infections break down the body’s immune system and kill the patients
rather than AIDS.
______ 2. AIDS can be contracted from tears and saliva.
______ 3. AIDS-infected blood can contaminate uninfected blood.
______ 4. Mosquito and other animal bites can transmit AIDS.
______ 5. At this time, prevention is still best when it comes to AIDS since there is still no
known cure for this disease.
Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on page 40. Did you get a perfect
score? If you did, that’s very good. This means you already know much about the topic to be
discussed in this lesson. If you didn’t, don’t worry. This just means you need to read this lesson
carefully to understand its contents.

Let’s Learn

AIDS is probably the most dreaded disease at present but how much do you really know
about it? HIV is a virus that gets into and flows through the bloodstream. AIDS is the disease
that is caused by HIV. Once you are diagnosed as HIV positive, you do not automatically have
AIDS. There is a possibility of being HIV positive and not having AIDS. What most people do
not know is, infections break down the body’s immune system and kill the patients rather than
AIDS.
The AIDS virus can be spread in many ways. AIDS can be transmitted by direct contact of
bodily fluids from an infected male/female. AIDS-infected blood can contaminate uninfected
blood. There are three main ways by which HIV is spread:
1. having sexual intercourse with an infected person;
2. using intravenous drugs (sharing needles with an infected person); and

13
 3. being transfused with AIDS-infected blood (which are very rare now because all
blood are tested before use).
The virus cannot be contracted in many of the ways people think it can. There is a very low
concentration of the virus in tears and saliva so these cases of transmission are very rare. There
are no known cases of transmission through mosquito or any other animal bites.
Another common way of AIDS transmission is mother-to-child transmission. The virus can
be transmitted to the child from the mother before or during the delivery of the baby. Mother-to-
child transmission can also occur if the breast milk the baby is fed in its early stages is infected. At
this time, there is no cure for this deadly virus so prevention is still best. You should get tested
regularly. The safest way to avoid getting the disease is to abstain from unsafe or unprotected
sexual intercourse.

Let’s Try This

List down the ways by which AIDS can be transmitted in the blanks provided below.
1. _________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________________________
4. _________________________________________________________________
Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on page 40. Did you get all the
correct answers? If you did, that’s very good. If you didn’t, don’t worry. Just review the parts of
the lesson you did not understand very well before going to the next part.

Let’s Learn

What are the symptoms of HIV?

The development of AIDS has three stages. These are:
Stage 1: No symptoms — In the first stage of HIV, the symptoms don’t show up. People
can live with AIDS for years without knowing it. Blood tests will show antibodies after
they form to fight the AIDS virus but it takes the antibodies three months to show up.
This means that if you take a blood test right after you have sex, the virus won’t show
up for another three months.
Stage 2: Mild illness — At this stage, the virus grows within the white blood cells and
destroys them. When most of the cells are destroyed, the immune system is also
destroyed and the body weakens. Some symptoms include feeling tired and losing
weight. A person with HIV may also develop cough, diarrhea, fever or excessive
sweating at night. He/She is more threatened by a cold than a person without the
disease.

14
 Stage 3: Severe illness — By this time, the AIDS virus has nearly destroyed the body’s
immune system. The person then becomes unable to fight off germs. He/She can also
develop a rare type of cancer called Kaposi’s sarcoma. AIDS doesn’t kill anyone
but other infections and cancer do.
Scientists are trying to develop a cure for AIDS. There are three parts to finding the cure:
1. devise a drug that will kill the HIV once it enters the body;
2. create a vaccine that would prevent the disease; and
3. educate the people worldwide about the dangers of AIDS and how to prevent HIV
infection.
In 1986, the first step was taken in AIDS prevention. AZT is a pill that has prolonged the
lives of HIV-infected patients. Ninety percent of patients who have taken the AZT pill are still
alive after one year of being diagnosed. This signifies an increase of 50% without the pill.
There are some side effects of AZT though. Some patients have developed a resistance to
the drug after prolonged use.
Other drugs have also been tested in the past few years. These drugs have different side
effects but by switching medicines a patient may not suffer from many of their side effects.
Medicines to fight AIDS need to be developed to kill the virus but not the cells that they live
in. Doctors are trying to develop the medicines and test them quickly so they can be made
available to AIDS patients. Many AIDS- and HIV-infected patients are volunteering to test the
medicines even if they are still in the experimental stage just so they would slow down the spread
of the virus.

Let’s Review

Write T in the blank if the statement is true and substitute the underlined word with the
correct word/phrase if the statement is false.
________________ 1. If you take a blood test right after you have sex with an AIDS-
infected person, the virus will show up immediately.
________________ 2. A cold is more threatening to a person who has AIDS than to a
person who does not.
________________ 3. Most people do not know that infections break down the body’s
immune system and kill the patients rather than AIDS.
________________ 4. The first step in AIDS prevention was taken in 1996.
________________ 5. ABC is a pill that has prolonged the lives of HIV-infected
patients.
Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on pages 40 and 41. Did you get a
perfect score? If you did, that’s very good. If you didn’t, don’t worry. Just review the parts of the
lesson that you didn’t understand very well before going to the next part.

15
 Let’s Learn

Do you know how the immune system fights diseases?

Study the following steps to know how.

The white blood cells swallow the germs.

Blood cells break the germs into pieces and signal the B cells.

16
 The protein made by the B cells surrounds the germs.

The protein signals the killer T cells to kill the germs.

Let’s Review

Number the steps below according to the order in which they occur. Number the first step,
1, the second step, 2, and so on.
______ 1. Blood cells break the germs into pieces and signal the B cells.
______ 2. The protein signals the killer T cells to kill the germs.
______ 3. The white blood cells swallow the germs.
______ 4. The protein made by the B cells surrounds the germs.
Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on page 41. Did you get all the right
answers? If you did, that’s very good. If you didn’t, don’t worry. Just review the parts of the
lesson you didn’t understand very well before going to the next part.

17
 Let’s See What You Have Learned

Match the items in Column A with their descriptions/definitions in Column B. Write the
letters of the correct answers only in the blanks provided before the numbers.
Column A Column B
______ 1. HIV a. A pill that prolongs the lives of HIV-
infected patients
______ 2. AIDS
b. The stage characterized by severe illness
______ 3. Sexual intercourse
c. The stage that does not have any symptoms
______ 4. Intravenous drugs
at all
______ 5. Blood transfusion
d. The process of introducing whole
______ 6. Mother-to-child transmission compatible blood directly into the
bloodstream of a person or an animal
______ 7. Stage 1
e. The primary means of transmitting HIV
______ 8. Stage 2
f. A virus which breaks down the human
______ 9. Stage 3 body’s natural immune system often leading
______10. Kaposi’s sarcoma to AIDS

______11. AZT g. A form of cancer characterized by multiple

malignant tumors of the skin or lymph
nodes, now a common feature of AIDS
h. The stage characterized by mild illness
i. The process of passing on HIV from a
mother to her child before or during the
delivery of the baby
j. Illegal drugs that are taken in through a
person’s veins
k. A disease caused by infection with HIV
transmitted in blood, semen and vaginal
fluids which destroys the immune system
leaving the body susceptible to potentially-
fatal infections
Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on page 41. Did you get a perfect
score? If you did, that’s very good. If you didn’t, don’t worry. Just review the parts of the lesson
you didn’t understand very well before going to Lesson 3.

18
Let’s Remember

♦ HIV is a virus which breaks down the human body’s natural immune system, often
leading to AIDS.
♦ AIDS is a disease caused by infection with HIV transmitted in blood, semen and
vaginal fluids which destroys the immune system leaving the body susceptible to
potentially-fatal infections.
♦ AIDS can be transmitted by:
1. having sexual intercourse with an infected person;
2. using intravenous drugs;
3. being transfused with AIDS-infected blood; and
4. mother-to-child transmission.
♦ The three stages in the development of AIDS are:
Stage 1: This has no identified symptoms at all.
Stage 2: This is characterized by mild illness.
Stage 3: This is characterized by severe illness.
♦ Kaposi’s sarcoma is a form of cancer characterized by multiple malignant tumors of
the skin or lymph nodes, now a common feature of AIDS.
♦ The three parts to finding the cure for AIDS are:
1. devise a drug that will kill HIV once it enters the body;
2. create a vaccine that would prevent the disease; and
3. educate the people worldwide about the dangers of AIDS and how to prevent
the HIV infection.
♦ AZT is a pill that prolongs the lives of HIV-infected patients.
♦ The immune system fights diseases by following the four steps below.
1. The white blood cells swallow the germs.
2. Blood cells break the germs into pieces and signal the B cells.
3. The protein made by the B cells surrounds the germs.
4. The protein signals the killer T cells to kill the germs.

19
 LESSON 3

Bacteria: What Are They?

Did you know that there are more bacteria living in your body than there are people living
on earth? Answer these questions as you read more about bacteria:
1. How do bacteria look?
2. What do bacteria need in order to reproduce?

Let’s Read

Read the following news report about bacteria.

NEWS FLASH!
One of the hottest science news stories of the decade is the
discovery of possible remains of bacteria-like organisms on a meteorite
from Mars. But are they really fossils? How would we be able to find out
whether or not they are real? And what could they tell us about the history
of Mars — and of life on our own planet? Paleontologists are working
together with space scientists to try and answer some basic questions
about the possible “Martian bacteria.” There will eventually be an exhibit
on this server dealing with the “Martian microbes.” Until it’s ready, you can
view photographs and news articles about the find or learn more about
Mars meteorites courtesy of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Source: Waggoner, Ben and Brian Speer. (1994). Bacteria: Fossil

Record. Berkeley: The Museum of Paleontology of the University
of California and the Regents of the University of California. http://
www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/bacteria/bacteriafr.html. February 6,
2001, date accessed.
Did you find the article interesting? Do you want to find out more about bacteria? Why
don’t you read on to learn all about them and more.

20
 Let’s Learn

Bacteria are among the simplest and smallest living things. They are tiny monerans that have
no separate nucleus. A single molecule of DNA is found in their cytoplasms. Bacteria have no
mitochondria or endoplasmic reticulum. Their cytoplasms are surrounded by cell membranes.
Enzymes that help bacteria release energy from food are found along the cell membrane. A strong
cell wall often covers the cell membrane. It provides shape and can keep bacteria from bursting.
Some bacteria are also surrounded by slimy capsules that give them extra protection.
Most bacteria have one of the three basic shapes: rod, round or spiral as shown below.

Shapes of bacteria

The rod-shaped ones are called bacilli; the round ones, cocci; and the spiral ones, spirilla.
Many bacteria can move. Some creep and glide. Others use flagella, the protein fibers that
whip back and forth causing the bacteria to move, as shown below.

Bacteria with flagella

21
 Let’s Review

Draw lines from the drawings in Column A to their corresponding names in Column B.
Column A Column B
1.

a. Cocci

2.

b. Spirilla

3.

c. Bacilli

Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on page 41. Did you get a perfect
score? If you did, that’s very good. If you didn’t, don’t worry. Just review the parts of the lesson
that you didn’t understand very well before going to the next part.

22
 Let’s Learn

Like all organisms, monerans carry on the processes of life. Fission is the simplest form of
reproduction.
During fission, the single molecule of DNA doubles. The cell divides and two new cells
form. Each of the new bacteria has an exact copy of the original DNA.
The complete process of fission can take place within 20 minutes. By growing and
reproducing so quickly, bacteria can greatly increase in number. However, this process can take
place only if the conditions are right.
Most bacteria need a warm, moist environment to live in. Besides warmth and moisture,
most bacteria need a good supply of oxygen. These bacteria—the aerobes—use the oxygen to
break down food and release energy for growth. Some bacteria—the anaerobes—do not need
oxygen to break down food. Other bacteria can make their own food. These food-making
bacteria use the energy in sunlight or chemicals to make their own food for growth.

Let’s Review

Answer the following questions briefly.

1. What are the three common kinds of bacteria? Give a brief description of each.
a. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
c. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
2. Define the following terms.
a. Fission ______________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
b. Aerobe ______________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
c. Anaerobe ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on pages 41 and 42. Did you get all
the correct answers? If you did, that’s very good. If you didn’t, don’t worry. Just review the parts
of the lesson you didn’t understand very well before going to the next part.

23
 Did you know that . . .
. . . some bacteria thrive on chemicals made by hot springs deep below the ocean’s surface?
These bacteria serve as a food for 2-m long tubeworms and giant clams.

Let’s See What You Have Learned

Encircle the terms in the word hunt puzzle below being described by the following clues.

B A C T E R I A A C O C C I B C
A F A G H I J K L M N O P Q R D
C T P U V W X F I S S I O N S E
I S S O P Q R L S T U V W Y T F
L R U K L M N A N A E R O B E S
L Q L J T A U G V W X O X Z U G
I P E I S E B E A Z Y P Y A V H
E O S P I R I L L A R Q Z B W I
D N N H G O F L E D C B A C X J
C M M L K B J A I H G F E D Y K
B L K J I E H G F E D C B A Z L
A Z Y X W S V U T S R Q P O N M

1. ________ An extremely diverse group of microscopic and usually single-

celled organisms that occur in soil, water and air including many
parasitic species that cause numerous infectious diseases
2. ________ Give extra protection to bacteria
3. _______ Rod-shaped bacteria
4. _____ Round bacteria
5. ________ Spiral bacteria
6. ________ Protein fibers that whip back and forth causing bacteria to move
7. _______ The division of a cell or a single-celled organism into two or more
new cells or organisms as a means of asexual reproduction
8. _______ Bacteria that use oxygen to break down food and release energy
for growth
9. _________ Bacteria that do not need oxygen to break down food
Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on page 42. Did you get a perfect
score? If you did, that’s very good. If you didn’t, don’t worry. Just review the parts of the lesson
that you didn’t understand very well before going to Lesson 3.

24
Let’s Remember

♦ Bacteria are microscopic and usually single-celled organisms that occur in soil, water
and air including many parasitic species that cause numerous infectious diseases.
♦ Capsules give extra protection to bacteria.
♦ Bacteria are of three kinds:
1. bacilli;
2. cocci; and
3. spirilla.
♦ Flagella are protein fibers that whip back and forth causing bacteria to move.
♦ The division of a cell or a single-celled organism into two or more new cells or
organisms as a means of asexual reproduction is called fission.
♦ Aerobes are bacteria that use oxygen to break down food and release energy for
growth. Anaerobes, on the other hand, are those that do not need oxygen to break
down food.

25
 LESSON 4

Bacteria: Friend or Foe?

Bacteria can live in many environments where other organisms cannot survive. These include
icy polar lands, boiling hot springs, deep ocean waters and even in the air you breathe. Learn
how bacteria affect your life in this lesson.

Let’s Try This

Draw lines from the diseases in Column A to their definitions/descriptions in Column B.

Column A Column B
1. Cholera a. A curable sexually transmitted disease
caused by a bacterium called Neisseria
2. Gonorrhea
gonorrhoeae
3. Syphilis
b. An infectious and potentially-fatal disease
4. Tetanus caused by the release of toxins from a
bacterium, the spores of which are found
in soil
c. An acute intestinal infection caused by the
bacterium Vibrio cholerae
d. A sexually transmitted disease caused by a
bacterium called Treponema pallidum
Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on page 42. Did you get a perfect
score? If you did, that’s very good. This means you already know a lot about the topic of this
lesson. If you didn’t, don’t worry. Just read on to find out more about bacteria.

Let’s Learn

Bacteria help us by breaking down the tissues of dead organisms. The breakdown process
— decomposition — happens as bacteria use the nutrients in dead tissues for food. Without
bacteria, piles of dead organisms would cover the earth.
When decomposition takes place, bacteria release certain chemicals as waste products.
Some of these chemicals serve as important raw materials for growing plants. Without bacteria,
the cycle of life would not continue.

26
 Some bacteria and some species of blue-green bacteria live on the roots of certain plants.
These bacteria change nitrogen in the air into chemicals that the plants can use. Thus, “factory-
made” fertilizers are not needed to help these plants grow.
Some bacteria decompose sewage and other wastes in water. In this way, bacteria help
keep lakes and streams free from pollution.

Bacteria decompose organisms and keep water free from pollution.

When you swallow a spoonful of yogurt or bite into a crisp pickle, you are eating food
flavored by the action of bacteria. Cheese, sauerkraut and other food are also flavored with the
help of bacteria.
Life scientists often use bacteria in their laboratories for research because they are simpler
than other cells and they reproduce very quickly. Experiments using bacteria help scientists study
DNA, RNA, cancer, viruses and other life processes.

Let’s Review

Study the drawings on the next page. Then, using the given sentences in the box, label each
drawing accordingly.

Bacteria aid in the preparation of food and drinks such as cheese,

yogurt, sauerkraut, coffee, tea, pickles and sour cream.
Bacteria aid in sewage treatment by using sewage as food.
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules build soil fertility.
Bacteria are very useful to life scientists in their laboratories.

27
 1. _________________________ 2. _________________________
_________________________ _________________________

3. _________________________ 4. _______________________
_________________________ _______________________
Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on page 42. Did you get all the
correct answers? If you did, that’s very good. If you didn’t, don’t worry. Just review the parts of
the lesson that you didn’t understand very well before going to the next part.

Let’s Learn

Even though most bacteria are helpful to us, some are harmful. Bacteria do help us by
decomposing wastes. However, when people dump large amounts of wastes into lakes and
rivers, the bacteria get more food. With so much food, the bacteria grow, reproduce and may
have a population explosion. The huge number of bacteria then use up the oxygen dissolved in the
water. Fish and other organisms living in the water can suffocate.

28
 Bacteria help us make certain food but they can also cause large losses of food through
decay, spoilage and poisoning. Botulism is a deadly kind of food poisoning caused by a species
of bacteria. We try to slow down the growth of harmful bacteria by drying, freezing, refrigerating,
preserving or boiling our food.
Bacteria that cause diseases are called pathogens. They can damage the living tissues in
your body and make materials that are poisonous to you. Pathogenic bacteria cause hundreds of
diseases such as strep throat, pneumonia, tuberculosis and tetanus in humans and in other
organisms.
Some organisms make chemicals that prevent the growth of bacteria. These chemicals are
called antibiotics. They are used to kill pathogenic bacteria. Antibiotics have been used to save
millions of lives. Penicillin is a well-known antibiotic that cures strep throat by killing the bacteria
which cause it.

Let’s Review

Answer the following questions briefly.

1. What can bacteria do to lakes, wastes and food?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
2. Name two ways by which bacteria can be harmful.
a. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on pages 42 and 43. Did you get all
the right answers? If you did, that’s very good. If you didn’t, don’t worry. Just review the parts of
the lesson that you didn’t understand very well before going to the next part.

Let’s Learn

Aside from the harm mentioned above that bacteria can cause, they can also cause a lot of
diseases. Some of these are discussed below.
1. Cholera — This is an acute intestinal infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio
cholerae. It has a short incubation period from less than one day to five days and
produces toxins in the intestines that cause painless, watery diarrhea that can quickly
lead to severe dehydration and death if treatment is not promptly given. Vomiting also
occurs in most patients.

29
 Most persons infected with Vibrio cholerae do not become ill although the
bacterium is present in their feces for seven to fourteen days. When illness does occur,
more than 90% of episodes are of mild or moderate severity and are difficult to
distinguish clinically from other types of acute diarrhea. Less than 10% of ill persons
develop typical cholera with signs of moderate or severe dehydration.
2. Gonorrhea — This is a curable sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a
bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. These bacteria can infect the genital tract, the
mouth and the rectum. In women, the cervix, the opening to the womb from the birth
canal, is the first place of infection. The disease, however, can spread into the womb
and Fallopian tubes, resulting in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID affects a
lot of women and can cause infertility in as many as 10% of them. It can also cause
ectopic pregnancy.
Gonorrhea is spread during sexual intercourse—vaginal, oral and anal. People
who practice anal intercourse can get gonorrhea of the rectum. Even women who do
not engage in anal intercourse though can get gonorrhea of the rectum if the bacteria
are spread from their vaginal areas.
Infected women can pass gonorrhea to their newborn children during delivery
causing eye infections. This complication is rare because newborn babies receive eye
medicine to prevent infection. When the infection occurs in the genital tract, mouth or
rectum of a child, it is due most commonly to sexual abuse.
3. Syphilis — This STD is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. The initial
infection causes an ulcer at the site of infection, however, the bacteria move throughout
the body damaging many organs over time. Medical experts describe the course of the
disease by dividing it into four stages—primary, secondary, latent and tertiary. An
infected person who has not been treated may infect others during the first two stages
which usually lasts one to two years. In its late stages, untreated syphilis, although not
contagious can cause serious heart abnormalities, mental disorders, blindness, other
neurologic problems and even death.
The bacterium spreads from the initial ulcer of an infected person to the skin or
mucous membranes of the genital area, the mouth or the anus of a sexual partner. It
can also pass through broken skin or other parts of the body. The syphilis bacterium is
very fragile and the infection is almost always spread by sexual contact. In addition, a
pregnant woman with syphilis can pass the bacterium to her unborn child who may be
born with serious mental or physical problems as a result of this infection. But the most
common way to get syphilis is to have sex with someone who has an active infection.
4. Tetanus — This enters the body through a wound. It can get in through even a tiny
pinprick or scratch but prefers deep puncture wounds or cuts like those made by nails
and knives.
Tetanus germs are found everywhere usually in soil, dust and manure. Once they
enter a wound, they can produce a poison which spreads throughout the body.

30
 The first signs of tetanus infection are usually a headache and spasms of the jaw
muscles. The victim may become irritable. As the poison spreads, it causes muscle
spasms in the neck, arms, legs and stomach. The victim may get painful convulsions
which can be severe enough to cause broken bones. People with tetanus may have to
spend several weeks in the hospital under intensive care.
Tetanus vaccine is usually given together with diphtheria and pertussis vaccines in
a shot called DTP.

Let’s Review

Classify the descriptions of diseases in the box accordingly in the table given below.

An acute intestinal infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio

cholerae
A curable STD caused by a bacterium called Neisseria
gonorrhoeae
STD caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum
An infection that enters the body through a wound
Has a short incubation period from less than a day to five days
Primarily infects the cervix in women
Causes an ulcer at the site of infection
An infection that can get in through a tiny pinprick or scratch but
more often in deep puncture wounds or cuts

Cholera Gonorrhea Syphilis Tetanus

Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on page 43. Did you get all the
answers right? If you did, that’s very good. If you didn’t, don’t worry. Just review the parts of the
lesson that you didn’t understand very well before going to the next part.

31
 Let’s See What You Have Learned

Match the terms in Column A with their descriptions/definitions in Column B. Write only the
letters of the correct answers in the blanks.
Column A Column B
______ 1. Decomposition a. A vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus and
pertussis
______ 2. Botulism
b. STD caused by the bacterium Treponema
______ 3. Pathogens
pallidum
______ 4. Antibiotics
c. Curable STD caused by a bacterium called
______ 5. Cholera Neisseria gonorrhoeae
______ 6. Gonorrhea d. Chemicals used to kill pathogenic bacteria
______ 7. Penicillin e. A deadly kind of food poisoning caused by
a species of bacteria
______ 8. Syphilis
f. The breakdown process that happens as
______ 9. Tetanus bacteria use the nutrients in dead tissues
______10. DTP g. Bacteria that cause diseases
h. An acute intestinal infection caused by the
bacterium Vibrio cholerae
i. A well-known antibiotic that cures strep
throat by killing the bacteria which cause it
j. An infection that enters the body through a
wound
Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on page 43. Did you get a perfect
score? If you did, that’s very good. If you didn’t, don’t worry. Just review the parts of the lesson
you didn’t understand very well before going to the next part of the module.

32
 Let’s Remember

♦ Decomposition is the breakdown process that happens as bacteria use the nutrients in
dead tissues.
♦ Botulism is a deadly kind of food poisoning caused by a species of bacteria.
♦ Bacteria that cause diseases are called pathogens.
♦ Antibiotics are chemicals that are used to kill pathogenic bacteria.
♦ Penicillin is a well-known antibiotic that cures strep throat by killing the bacteria
which cause it.
♦ Bacteria can cause diseases such as:
1. cholera;
2. gonorrhea;
3. syphilis; and
4. tetanus.
Well, this is the end of the module! Congratulations for finishing it. Did you like it? Did you
learn anything useful from it? A summary of its main points is given on the next page to help you
remember them better.

33
 Let’s Sum Up

This module tells us that:

♦ Viruses are infectious particles consisting of a core of DNA or RNA enclosed in a
protein shell only visible under an electron microscope that invade the cells of animals,
plants and bacteria and can only survive and reproduce within such cells.
♦ An electron microscope operates using a beam of electrons rather than a beam of
light capable of very high magnification.
♦ The following are some of the most well-known viral infections:
1. AIDS;
2. chicken pox; and
3. influenza.
♦ Aside from spreading infectious diseases, viruses can be helpful too.
1. They are used as model systems in order to study the replication systems of
higher-order organisms such as animals and humans.
2. Studies on viruses have contributed greatly to understanding the body’s immune
response to infectious agents.
3. They are isolated then produced in large amounts for use as vaccines.
♦ HIV is a virus which breaks down the human body’s natural immune system, often
leading to AIDS.
♦ AIDS is a disease caused by infection with HIV transmitted in blood, semen and
vaginal fluids which destroys the immune system leaving the body susceptible to
potentially-fatal infections.
♦ AIDS can be transmitted by:
1. having sexual intercourse with an infected person;
2. using intravenous drugs;
3. being transfused with AIDS-infected blood; and
4. mother-to-child transmission.
♦ The three stages in the development of AIDS are:
Stage 1: This has no identified symptoms at all.
Stage 2: This is characterized by mild illness.
Stage 3: This is characterized by severe illness.
♦ Kaposi’s sarcoma is a form of cancer characterized by multiple malignant tumors of
the skin or lymph nodes, now a common feature of AIDS.
♦ The three parts to finding the cure for AIDS are:
1. devise a drug that will kill the HIV once it enters the body;

34
 2. create a vaccine that would prevent the disease; and
3. educate the people worldwide about the dangers of AIDS and how to prevent
the HIV infection.
♦ AZT is a pill that prolongs the lives of HIV-infected patients.
♦ The immune system fights disease by following the four steps below.
1. The white blood cells swallow the germs.
2. Blood cells break the germs into pieces and signal the B cells.
3. The protein made by the B cells surrounds the germs.
4. The protein signals the killer T cells to kill the germs.
♦ Bacteria are microscopic and usually single-celled organisms that occur in soil, water
and air including many parasitic species that cause numerous infectious diseases.
♦ Capsules give extra protection to bacteria.
♦ Bacteria are of three kinds:
1. bacilli;
2. cocci; and
3. spirilla.
♦ Flagella are protein fibers that whip back and forth causing bacteria to move.
♦ The division of a cell or a single-celled organism into two or more new cells or
organisms as a means of asexual reproduction is called fission.
♦ Aerobes are bacteria that use oxygen to break down food and release energy for
growth. Anaerobes, on the other hand, are those that do not need oxygen to break
down food.
♦ Decomposition is the breakdown process that happens as bacteria use the nutrients in
dead tissues.
♦ Botulism is a deadly kind of food poisoning caused by a species of bacteria.
♦ Bacteria that cause diseases are called pathogens.
♦ Antibiotics are chemicals that are used to kill pathogenic bacteria.
♦ Penicillin is a well-known antibiotic that cures strep throat by killing the bacteria
which cause it.
♦ Bacteria can cause diseases such as:
1. cholera;
2. gonorrhea;
3. syphilis; and
4. tetanus.

35
 What Have You Learned?
A. Complete the crossword puzzle below using the given clues.
4 5
7 8
11
13 14
15
16
Across
3. Operates using a beam of
electrons rather than a beam of
light, capable of very high
magnification
7. A virus which breaks down the
body’s natural immune system,
often leading to AIDS
8. Microscopic, usually single-
celled organisms that occur in
soil, water and air including
many parasitic species that
cause numerous infectious
diseases
13. A disease caused by infection
with HIV transmitted in blood,
semen and vaginal fluids which
destroys the immune system
leaving the body susceptible to
potentially-fatal infections
15. Give extra protection to
bacteria
16. Bacteria that do not need
10.
oxygen to break down food
36
6
9 10
12
17
Down
1. A form of cancer characterized by
multiple malignant tumors of the
skin or lymph nodes, now a
common feature of AIDS
2. Protein fibers that whip back and
forth causing bacteria to move
4. Infectious particles consisting of a
core of DNA or RNA enclosed in a
protein shell only visible under an
electron microscope that invade
the cells of animals, plants and
bacteria and can only survive and
reproduce within such cells
5. Bacteria that use oxygen to break
down food and release energy for
growth
6. A well-known antibiotic that cures
strep throat by killing the bacteria
which cause it
9. A pill that prolongs the lives of
HIV-infected patients
Chemicals that are used to kill
pathogenic bacteria
 Across Down
17. The breakdown process that 11. Bacteria that cause diseases
happens as bacteria use the
nutrients in dead tissues 12. A deadly kind of food poisoning
caused by a species of bacteria
14. The division of a cell or a single-
celled organism into two or more
new cells or organisms as a means
of asexual reproduction
B. Enumerate the following:
1. Name the three viral diseases discussed in this module.
a. __________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________________
2. Name three ways by which viruses help us.
a. __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
3. Name four ways by which AIDS can be transmitted.
a. __________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________________
d. __________________________________________________________
4. Describe the three stages in the development of AIDS.
a. __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

37
 5. Name the three parts in finding the cure for AIDS.
a. __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
6. Name the four steps taken by the immune system in fighting diseases.
a. __________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________________
d. __________________________________________________________
7. Name the three kinds of bacteria.
a. __________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________________
8. Name the four bacterial diseases discussed in this module.
a. __________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________________
d. __________________________________________________________
Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on pages 44 and 45. Did you get a
perfect score? If you did, that’s very good. If you didn’t, don’t worry. Just review the parts of the
module you didn’t understand very well before studying another module.

38
 Answer Key

A. Let’s See What You Already Know (pages 2–4)

A. 1. (a)
2. (b)
3. (a)
4. (b)
5. (b)
6. (c)
7. (c)
8. (d)
9. (b)
10. (d)

B. Lesson 1
Let’s Review (pages 8–9)
a. 1
b. 3
c. 5
d. 2
e. 4
Let’s Try This (page 10)

AIDS Chicken Pox Influenza

retrovirus varicellovirus flu
HIV itchy rash orthomyxovirus
general malaise usually acute respiratory illness
more severe in adults
usually mild but may be mild viral infection
severe in infants, adults transmitted by respiratory
and persons with impaired secretions through sneezing
immune systems or coughing

39
 Let’s See What You Have Learned (page 11)
1. a. Viruses are not made of cells.
b. They do not reproduce, respond to changes, use energy or grow.
2. Viruses enter the body then attach to a cell. They then enter the cell and take over
the cell’s metabolism. Afterward, new viruses form and spread to other cells.
3. a. AIDS — a disease caused by infection with HIV transmitted in blood, semen
and vaginal fluids which destroys the immune system leaving the body
susceptible to potentially-fatal infections.
b. Chicken pox — an infectious viral disease which mainly affects children
characterized by fever and an itchy rash of dark red spots.
c. Influenza — a highly infectious viral infection with symptoms including
headache, fever, sore throat, catarrh and muscular aches and pains.
4. a. Used as model systems in order to study the replication systems of higher-
order organisms such as animals and humans
b. Studies on which have contributed greatly to understanding the body’s immune
response to infectious agents
c. Are isolated then produced in large amounts for use as vaccines

C. Lesson 2
Let’s Try This (page 13)
1. F
2. M
3. F
4. M
5. F
Let’s Try This (page 14)
1. having sexual intercourse with an AIDS-infected person
2. using intravenous drugs
3. being transfused with AIDS-infected blood
4. mother-to-child transmission
Let’s Review (page 15)
1. only after three months
2. T
3. T

40
 4. 1986
5. AZT
Let’s Review (page 17)
1. 2
2. 4
3. 1
4. 3
Let’s See What You Have Learned (page 18)
A. 1. (f)
2. (k)
3. (e)
4. (j)
5. (d)
6. (i)
7. (c)
8. (h)
9. (b)
10. (g)
11. (a)

D. Lesson 3
Let’s Review (page 22)
1. (b)
2. (c)
3. (a)
Let’s Review (page 23)
1. a. Bacilli — rod-shaped bacteria
b. Cocci — round bacteria
c. Spirilla — spiral bacteria
2. a. The division of a cell or a single-celled organism into two or more new cells or
organisms as a means of asexual reproduction

41
 b. A bacterium that uses oxygen to break down food and releases energy for
growth
c. A bacterium that does not need oxygen to break down food
Let’s See What You Have Learned (page 24)

B A C T E R I A A C O C C I B C
A F A G H I J K L M N O P Q R D
C T P U V W X F I S S I O N S E
I S S O P Q R L S T U V W Y T F
L R U K L M N A N A E R O B E S
L Q L J T A U G V W X O X Z U G
I P E I S E B E A Z Y P Y A V H
E O S P I R I L L A R Q Z B W I
D N N H G O F L E D C B A C X J
C M M L K B J A I H G F E D Y K
B L K J I E H G F E D C B A Z L
A Z Y X W S V U T S R Q P O N M

E. Lesson 4
Let’s Try This (page 26)
1. (c)
2. (a)
3. (d)
4. (b)
Let’s Review (pages 27–28)
1. Bacteria aid in sewage treatment by using sewage as food.
2. Bacteria aid in the preparation of food and drinks such as cheese, yogurt,
sauerkraut, coffee, tea, pickles and sour cream.
3. Bacteria are very useful to life scientists in their laboratories.
4. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules build soil fertility.
Let’s Review (page 29)
1. Bacteria can clean up lakes, decompose wastes and aid in the preparation of
certain food.

42
 2. a. Too much bacteria in bodies of water use up the oxygen supply, thus depriving
the other organisms that need it too.
b. They can also cause large losses of food through decay, spoilage and
poisoning.
Let’s Review (page 31)

Cholera Gonorrhea Syphilis Tetanus

An acute intestinal A curable STD STD caused by An infection that
infection caused caused by a the bacterium enters the body
by the bacterium bacterium called Treponema through a wound
Vibrio cholerae Neisseria pallidum
gonorrhoeae
Has a short Primarily infects Causes an ulcer An infection that
incubation period the cervix in at the site of can get in
from less than women infection through a tiny
a day to five days pinprick or scratch
but more often in
deep puncture
wounds or cuts

Let’s See What You Have Learned (page 32)

1. (f)
2. (e)
3. (g)
4. (d)
5. (h)
6. (c)
7. (i)
8. (b)
9. (j)
10. (a)

43
F. What Have You Learned? (pages 36–38)
A. 1
K
2
F A
3
E L E C T R O N M I C R O S C O P E
A O
4 5 6
G V A S P
7 8 9 10
E H I V B A C T E R I A A E
L R Z R S N N
11 12
L U P T O B T I
14
13
A I D S F A B S O I C
E I T E A T B I
15
C A P S U L E S H S R U I L
S O C L O L
I G O I T I
16 17
A N A E R O B E S D E C O M P O S I T I O N
N N A M C
S S

B. 1. a. AIDS
b. chicken pox
c. influenza
2. a. Used as model systems in order to study the replication systems of higher-
order organisms such as animals and humans
b. Studies on which have contributed greatly to understanding the body’s
immune response to infectious agents
c. Are isolated then produced in large amounts for use as vaccines
3. a. having sexual intercourse with an AIDS-infected person
b. using intravenous drugs
c. being transfused with AIDS-infected blood
d. mother-to-child transmission
4. a. Stage 1 — does not show any symptoms at all
b. Stage 2 — characterized by mild illness
c. Stage 3 — characterized by severe illness
5. a. Devise a drug that will kill the HIV once it enters the body.
b. Create a vaccine that would prevent the disease.
c. Educate the people worldwide about the dangers of AIDS and how to
prevent the HIV infection.
6. a. The white blood cells swallow the germs.
b. Blood cells break the germs into pieces and signal the B cells.
c. The protein made by the B cells surrounds the germs.
d. The protein signals the killer T cells to kill the germs.

44
 7. a. bacilli
b. cocci
c. spirilla
8. a. cholera
b. gonorrhea
c. syphilis
d. tetanus

Glossary

Aerobes Bacteria that use oxygen to break down food and release energy for growth.
AIDS Stands for acquired immune deficiency (immunodeficiency) syndrome, a disease
caused by infection with HIV transmitted in blood, semen and vaginal fluids which
destroys the immune system leaving the body susceptible to potentially-fatal infections.
Ammonites Extinct marine cephalopod mollusks with flat, tightly coiled shells widespread
during the Mesozoic era.
Anaerobes Bacteria that do not need oygen to break down food.
Antibiotics Chemicals that prevent the growth of pathogenic bacteria.
AZT Stands for azidothymidine, a drug that is used in the treatment of AIDS.
Bacilli Rod-shaped bacteria.
Bacteria An extremely diverse group of microscopic and usually single-celled organisms
that occur in soil, water and air including many parasitic species that cause numerous
infectious diseases.
B cells Also known as B lymphocytes, cells that are produced and mature in the bone
marrow.
Botulism A deadly kind of food poisoning caused by a species of bacteria.
Capsules Surround and give extra protection to bacteria.
Catarrh Inflammation of a mucous membrane especially one that always affects the human
nose and air passages.
Cervix The neck of the uterus consisting of a narrow passage leading to the inner end of
the vagina.
Chicken pox An infectious viral disease which mainly affects children characterized by
fever and an itchy rash of dark red spots.
Cholera An acute and potentially-fatal bacterial infection of the small intestine
characterized by severe vomiting and diarrhea and caused by ingestion of
contaminated food or water.
Cocci Round bacteria.

45
Cytoplasm The part of a living cell excluding the nucleus that is enclosed by the cell
membrane and which contains a range of organelles.
Decomposition The breakdown process that happens as bacteria use the nutrients in dead
tissues for food.
DNA Stands for deoxyribonucleic acid, the nucleic acid that forms the material of which
the chromosomes and genes of almost all living organisms are composed containing
coded instructions for the transmission of genetic information from one generation to
the next and for the manufacture of all the proteins that are required for the growth and
development of a whole new organism.
DTP vaccine A combined vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis given to a person
at three separate times between two months to one year of age.
Ebola A highly contagious, severe, often-fatal hemorrhagic fever in humans and nonhuman
primates (monkeys and chimpanzees).
Ectopic pregnancy The development of a fetus outside the uterus especially in a Fallopian
tube.
Electron microscope A microscope which operates using a beam of electrons rather than
a beam of light capable of very high magnification.
Endoplasmic reticulum The part of the cell responsible for the production of lipids for
constructing new membranes, proteins and complex carbohydrates.
Fallopian tubes In female mammals: the two long slender tubes through which the egg cells
pass from the ovaries to the uterus.
Fission The division of a cell or a single-celled organism into two or more new cells or
organisms as a means of asexual reproduction.
Flagella The protein fibers that whip back and forth causing the bacteria to move.
Foraminifera Single-celled protists with shells.
Gonorrhea A sexually transmitted disease caused by infection with the Neisseria
gonorrhoeae bacterium which if left untreated may cause sterility, arthritis and
inflammation of the heart.
Hanta fever A potentially-deadly viral disease carried by rodents especially the deer
mouse.
Herpes Any of various contagious skin diseases caused by a virus which gives rise to
watery blisters.
HIV Stands for human immunodeficiency virus, a virus which breaks down the human
body’s natural immune system, often leading to AIDS.
Influenza A highly infectious viral infection with symptoms including headache, fever, sore
throat, catarrh and muscular aches and pains.
Intravenous drugs Illegal drugs that are taken in through a person’s veins.
Kaposi’s sarcoma A form of cancer characterized by multiple malignant tumors of the skin
or lymph nodes, now a common feature of AIDS.
Lesions Injuries or wounds.

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Malaise A feeling of uneasiness, discontent, general depression or despondency.
Measles A highly infectious viral disease characterized by fever, sore throat and a blotchy
red rash that starts on the face and neck and spreads to the rest of the body.
Metabolism The sum of all the chemical reactions that occur within the cells of a living
organism including both the production and breakdown of complex organic
compounds.
Mitochondria In the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells especially in the cells of muscle tissue:
specialized oval structures consisting of a central matrix surrounded by two
membranes.
Monerans Bacteria (eubacteria and archaebacteria) and prokaryotic organisms
(organisms without distinct nuclei) considered to constitute the kingdom Monera.
Nodules Swellings in a root of a leguminous plant inhabited by bacteria that convert
nitrogen for the plant’s use.
Nucleus The central part of a plant or animal cell containing genetic material.
Paleontologists Scientists who study the forms of life that existed in former geologic
periods chiefly by studying fossils.
Pathogens Bacteria that cause diseases.
Penicillin A well-known antibiotic that cures strep throat by killing the bacteria which
cause it.
PID Stands for pelvic inflammatory disease, in women: any pelvic infection of the upper
reproductive tract usually affecting the uterus, Fallopian tubes and ovaries often caused
by the spread of infection from an infected organ nearby.
Polio A viral disease of the brain and spinal cord which in some cases can result in
permanent paralysis.
Rabies A viral disease of the central nervous system usually fatal and transmitted in saliva
from the bite of an infected animal which causes convulsions, paralysis and fear of
water.
RNA Stands for ribonucleic acid, the hereditary material of some viruses.
Sauerkraut A popular German dish consisting of shredded cabbage pickled in saltwater.
Shingles The disease herpes zoster caused by the chicken pox virus in which acute
inflammation of spinal nerve ganglia produces pain and then a series of blisters along
the path of the nerve especially in the area of the waist and ribs but sometimes around
the head and face.
Spirilla Spiral bacteria.
Syphilis A sexually transmitted disease caused by bacterial infection and characterized by
painless ulcers on the genitals, fever and a faint red rash which if left untreated may
eventually result in heart damage, blindness, paralysis and death.
T cells Also known as T lymphocytes, B cells that leave the bone marrow and mature in
the thymus.

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Tetanus An infectious and potentially fatal disease caused by the release of toxins from a
bacterium, the spores of which are found in soil.
Virus An infectious particle consisting of a core of DNA or RNA enclosed in a protein
shell only visible under an electron microscope that invades the cells of animals, plants
and bacteria and can only survive and reproduce within such cells.

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