1. Table of Contents Infectious Disease The Body’s Defenses
Preventing Infectious Disease

2. How Pathogens Are Spread
- Infectious Disease
How Pathogens Are Spread
Pathogens can spread through contact with an infected person; soil, food, or water; a contaminated object; or an infected animal.

3. Using Prior Knowledge - Infectious Disease
Before you read, look at the section headings and visuals to see what this section is about. Then write what you know about infectious diseases in a graphic organizer like the one below. As you read, write what you learn.
What You Know
Bacteria and viruses can cause disease.
What You Learned
Pathogens spread through contact with an infected person, animal, or object, or through contaminated soil, food, or drink.

4. The Immune System - The Body’s Defenses
The immune system includes T cells and B cells. The cells work together to fight infections.

5. Immune Response Activity
- The Body’s Defenses
Immune Response Activity
Click the Active Art button to open a browser window and access Active Art about immune response.

6. Active Immunity - Preventing Infectious Disease
A person acquires active immunity when his or her own immune system produces antibodies in response to the presence of a pathogen.

7. Passive Immunity
In passive immunity, individuals do not have the antibodies, but rather, are passed down to them naturally or through human intervention. This is a temporary fix. Lasting only a few months.
Antibodies are passed from mother to fetus during the last month of pregnancy or through breastfeeding after birth.
Antibodies are introduced directly into the blood stream. OR

8. Comparing and Contrasting
- Preventing Infectious Disease
Comparing and Contrasting
As you read, compare and contrast active immunity and passive immunity in a Venn diagram like the one below. Write the similarities in the space where the circles overlap and the differences on the left and right sides.
Active Immunity
Passive Immunity
Antibodies are given; the body does not make antibodies.
The body makes antibodies.
Can prevent diseases
Immunity can be acquired from the mother during pregnancy.
Memory cells recognize antigens.
May involve an injection
Immunity may last for years or a lifetime.
Immunity lasts only a few months.

9. End of Section: Preventing Infectious Disease