CAST OF CHARACTERS

Bacteria Prokaryotic Most numerous Most are non-infectious Mutualistic->Commensalistic->Parasitic Affected by antibiotics

iWc iWc

Examples Escherichia coli Staphylococcus – clumps of spherical bacteria Streptococcus – strings of spherical bacteria Bacillius – rod shaped bacteria Vibrio cholerae Haemophilus influenzae Clostridium tetani, Clostridium botulinum

Viruses Non-cellular Composed of DNA or RNA(retrovirus) surrounded by a protein coat- a majority of viruses are retroviruses Obligate intracellular parasites Lytic or latent Potential to be eradicated

Examples Polio Warts Influenza Cold HIV Hepatitis measles

Fungi Eukaryotic Mildly infectious Mushrooms, molds, yeasts, rusts, smuts, mildews

Examples Penicillin Dutch elm disease Corn smut Wheat rust Potato blight Candida albicans Aspergillus – mold in the air Athlete’s foot

Protists Eukaryotic Mainly protozoans (animal like protists) are infectious Typically have cilia or flagella or pseudopodia

Examples Malaria Plasmodium Cryptosporidium Chagas disease Sleeping sickness Amebic dysentery

Prions Are proteins Acellular – contain no genetic material

Examples Scrapie Kuru Bovine Spongiform encephalopathy Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease