Viral Infections

Viruses are alive.

• True

• False

Can antibiotics work on viruses?

• Yes

• No

• Maybe

Can antibiotics kill bacteria?

• Yes

• No

• Maybe

Diphtheria is serious illness in which toxins deteriorate nervous tissue. Antitoxins can be used to counteract these affects and antibiotics can be used to rid the body of any remaining parasites. Based on these facts, is diphtheria caused by bacteria or viruses?

• Bacteria

• Viruses

Chicken pox is an infectious disease which causes the patient’s body to be covered in blisters. Chicken pox does not respond to treatment with antibiotics. Is chicken pox a bacteria or a virus?

• Bacteria

• Viruses

Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infection can cause chills, sore throat, muscle aches, pain and fever. The flu cannot be controlled by antibiotics. Is Influenza a bacteria or a virus?

• Bacteria

• Viruses

A medical researcher has developed a drug that attaches to the surface markers of a specific virus preventing them from functioning correctly. This drug would most likely disrupt the virus’s ability to –

• mutate into a new viral strain

• attach to its target host cell

• maintain the integrity of its capsid

• have its genetic material transcribed

One of the most harmful aspects of viral reproduction is the –

• destruction of host cells

• reaction of cells to viral proteins

• use of the cell’s ribosomes

• misuse of the cell’s receptor proteins

When a new disease is introduced to a population, it is common for an epidemic to occur as the disease spreads quickly from person to person. This is primarily because individuals -

• do not have responsive immune systems

• always have poor personal hygiene habits

• do not understand how germs are spread

• lack immunities to the new disease

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS4-5

Why is it important for people to understand whether a virus is spread through the air or through direct contact with bodily fluids?

• To prevent it from being spread to new hosts

• So that people can identify the virus

• So that the food supply is not disturbed

• To create immunities in the population