Question

Describe one way that a prokaryote can make you sick. In your answer, name and describe at least two specific prokaryotic structures involved in pathogenesis AND Describe one way that a protist can make you sick. In your answer, name and describe at least two specific prokaryotic structures involved in pathogensis.

Answer 1

Two most common protozoan diseases are- malaria and Leishmaniasis

Malaria- is a life-threatening disease caused by protozoa Plasmodium that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is characterized by bt fevers and chills, convulsions, deep breathing, jaundice, anaemia etc,

The malarial parasite has a complex life cycle which involves various structures-

Infection with human malaria begins when feeding female anopheles inoculates plasmodial sporozoites at the time of feeding. After injection, they enter the main circulation either directly or via lymph channels and rapidly target the liver cells. Each sporozoite bores into the liver cell and asexual reproduction phase begins here. Now the hepatic schizont ruptures to release merozoites. During the pre-erythrocytic phase of development, considerable asexual reproduction takes place and many thousand merozoites are released from each ruptured infected hepatocyte. These merozoites resemble sporozoites which are motile Ovoid forms which invade the red cells rapidly. Inside the erythrocytes develop into signet ring stage. They consume haemoglobin by causing its proteolysis. Eventually, the growing parasite occupies the entire RBC which has become spherical, depleted and full of merozoites. It then ruptures releasing back the merozoites to infect fresh blood cells. Now the parasite develops into sexual forms or male and female gametocytes. Now, these gametocytes are picked up by the Anopheles mosquito. In their stomach male microgamete fuses with the female non-motile macrogamete forming a diploid zygote which eventually becomes worm like called ookinete. In this develops sporozoite into the coelomic cavity of the mosquito ready to spread once again.

Leishmaniasis- Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by parasites of the Leishmania type. It is spread by the bite of certain types of sandflies. The disease can present in three main ways: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, or visceral leishmaniasis.