Biology 9700 · AS & A Level · Infectious diseases

Infectious diseases — practice question

Trypanosoma brucei is a single-celled organism that leads to the infectious disease called sleeping sickness. Tsetse flies transmit the organism from infected people to uninfected people when male and female tsetse flies draw human blood.
(a(i))[1]

Fig. 4.1 is a transmission electron micrograph of the form of $T.\,brucei$ found in human blood. Place an arrow on Fig. 4.1 to show the part of the cell where ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and proteins are assembled to form ribosomal subunits.

(a(ii))[2]

With reference to Fig. 4.1, explain how the structure labelled X gives evidence that $T.\,brucei$ is motile (able to move).

(a(iii))[3]

With reference to Fig. 4.1, explain whether $T.\ brucei$ is a eukaryote or prokaryote.

(b(i))[1]

State the term given to an organism that causes disease.

(b(ii))[1]

Name one Plasmodium species that causes malaria.

(c)[3]

Outline the similarities and differences between the transmission of malaria and sleeping sickness.

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