MrBadmusInfection and response
Colour theme
Colour theme

AQA Biology 4.3.1.4–4.3.1.5

Fungal and protist diseases

A fungus on roses and a protist carried by mosquitoes. Follow each one, then break its spread.

Start here

A bite on holiday.

Mosquitoes bite millions of people every summer. In some parts of the world, a bite can lead to malaria.

If you had to guess, is the mosquito that bites you the thing that makes you ill, or something it carries?

Fungus · rose black spot

Spots, then fewer leaves.

Rose black spot is a fungal disease. It is spread in the environment by water or wind. Step through what happens to an infected rose.

Purple or black spots develop on the leaves.

Protist · malaria

A life cycle that includes the mosquito.

Malaria is caused by a protist. The mosquito is the vector: it carries the protist, but it isn’t the pathogen. Step round the cycle.

A mosquito bites a person who has malaria and takes in the protist with the blood.

Vectors and other routes of spread: in Communicable diseases and defences.

Think again · how black spot spreads

“Insects spread black spot.”

Your call

Choose

How is rose black spot spread?

Sort

Fungus or protist?

Place each clue.

Tap a card, then tap the box it belongs in. Tap a placed card to take it back.

Command words in this lesson

Describe
The symptoms, how it spreads, and how it is controlled.
Explain
Why a control measure works, link by link.
Compare
The two diseases, point by point.

Key fact

Rose black spot is a fungus spread by water or wind. Malaria is a protist; the mosquito is its vector.

Key note · AQA 4.3.1.4–4.3.1.5

Fungal and protist diseases

  1. Rose black spot is a fungal disease: purple or black spots on leaves, which turn yellow and drop early, so photosynthesis is reduced.
  2. It spreads by water or wind. Treat with fungicides and/or remove and destroy affected leaves.
  3. Malaria is caused by a protist whose life cycle includes the mosquito. The mosquito is the vector.
  4. Malaria causes recurrent episodes of fever and can be fatal. Control: stop mosquitoes breeding; use nets.

Photograph this card. Tomorrow, cover it and say each line first.

Previous and next

Connects to

Ask MrBadmus

Not sure what a vector is?

Ask MrBadmus

GCSE Science Tutor

preview