New
New
Year 10
Edexcel
Foundation

Fungal and protist diseases in humans

I can describe examples of common fungal and protist diseases in humans, how they are spread, and ways to reduce the spread.

New
New
Year 10
Edexcel
Foundation

Fungal and protist diseases in humans

I can describe examples of common fungal and protist diseases in humans, how they are spread, and ways to reduce the spread.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Some, but not all, fungi are pathogens that can cause communicable diseases in humans.
  2. Athlete’s foot as an example of a fungal disease, how it is spread, and how the spread can be reduced.
  3. Protists are eukaryotic microorganisms.
  4. Malaria as an example of a disease caused by a protist, spread by an insect vector, and how the spread can be reduced.
  5. The interaction of sickle-cell trait and malaria as an example of interaction between different types of disease.

Common misconception

Malaria is caused by mosquitos.

Mosquitos are the vector that transfer the protist to humans.

Keywords

  • Fungi - eukaryotic kingdom of microorganisms including yeast and mould

  • Protists - eukaryotic kingdom of microorganisms including amoeba and plasmodium

  • Vector - an organism that carries the pathogen from the host to another organism

  • Allele - a genetic variant in a gene creates an allele (a different version of a gene), which can produce a different phenotype

Another example of a vector is the 'tick'. It transmits a bacteria that causes Lyme disease in humans.
Teacher tip

Equipment

None required.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Fungi and protists are ...
Correct answer: eukaryotes.
prokaryotes.
plants.
animals.
Q2.
What do prokaryotic cells not have?
An image in a quiz
DNA
Correct answer: nucleus
cytoplasm
Correct answer: mitochondria
cell membrane
Q3.
True or false? Fungi are plants.
An image in a quiz
true
Correct answer: false
Q4.
What is a communicable disease?
A disease that is caused by lifestyle factors such as smoking.
A disease that cannot be passed from organism to organism.
A disease caused by a poor diet.
Correct answer: A disease that is passed from organism to organism.
Q5.
Not all micro-organisms cause disease but those that do are called ...
Correct Answer: pathogens
Q6.
What is an allele?
another word for the genome
genes working together for a particular function
Correct answer: a version of a gene
a section of non-coding DNA

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the word to its description.
Correct Answer:fungi,Eukaryotic kingdom of micro-organisms including yeast and mould.

Eukaryotic kingdom of micro-organisms including yeast and mould.

Correct Answer:protists,Eukaryotic kingdom of micro-organisms including amoeba.

Eukaryotic kingdom of micro-organisms including amoeba.

Correct Answer:vector,An organism that carries pathogens from a host to another organism.

An organism that carries pathogens from a host to another organism.

Q2.
What are the symptoms of Athlete's foot?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: itchy white patches between your toes
bruises
Correct answer: red rash around your toes
pus filled spots
Correct answer: dry, cracked and flaky skin
Q3.
How can you reduce the spread of Athlete's foot?
Correct answer: Wear shoes in communal spaces such as changing rooms.
Correct answer: Do not share towels, socks or shoes.
Share towels, socks or shoes.
Keep washing your feet to keep them moist.
Q4.
What is the vector for malaria?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: mosquito, mosquitoes, mosquitos
Q5.
How can we reduce the spread of malaria?
Correct answer: Sleep under a mosquito net.
Correct answer: Take an antimalarial drug if travelling to an area where prevalence is high.
Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Correct answer: Wear insect repellent.
Eat a balanced diet.
Q6.
Which of the following statements are not true?
An individual who has one copy of the sickle allele, has sickle cell anaemia.
Correct answer: Having one copy of a sickle cell allele is a survival advantage against malaria.
Correct answer: The protist that causes malaria cannot penetrate the sickle shaped cell easily.
Q4 CC BY 4.0 Deed Attribution 4.0 International