Key learning points

1. Some but not all bacteria are pathogens that can cause communicable diseases in humans.
2. Pathogenic bacteria can produce toxins that damage living tissue and cause disease.
3. Salmonella food poisoning as an example of a bacterial disease, how it is spread, and how the spread can be reduced.
4. Viruses invade cells to reproduce where they cause damage to cells.
5. Measles as an example of a viral disease, how it is spread, and how the spread can be reduced.

Keywords

• Pathogen - A pathogen is a microorganism that causes disease.

• Virus - A virus is an infectious agent.

• Bacteria - Bacteria is a single celled prokaryote.

• Communicable disease - A communicable disease is a disease that can be spread from one organism to another.

• Toxin - A toxin is a poison made by bacteria.

Common misconception