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CAIE IGCSE Biology 10.1 Diseases and Immunity Questions

Practise disease and immunity questions on pathogen transmission, body defences, disease control, vaccination, passive immunity and cholera toxin effects.

Syllabus
2026–2028
Course
Biology 0610

Exam points

  • define a pathogen and transmissible disease, distinguishing pathogen cause from host-to-host passage
  • identify skin, nasal hairs, mucus, stomach acid and white-cell actions as barriers or defences
  • explain how clean water, sewage treatment, hygiene, food preparation and waste disposal interrupt spread
  • match pathogen antigens with complementary antibody shapes and explain immune recognition
  • explain antibody binding by neutralising pathogens or marking them for phagocyte destruction
  • distinguish active immunity after infection or vaccination from passive antibody transfer
  • sequence vaccination from weakened pathogen or antigen through lymphocytes, antibodies and memory cells
  • interpret vaccination data by comparing cases in vaccinated and unvaccinated groups
  • identify passive immunity from placental, breast-milk or injected ready-made antibodies
  • explain why passive immunity is temporary when antibodies decline and memory cells are absent
  • trace cholera toxin from chloride secretion to lower water potential and osmotic water movement
  • link cholera osmotic water loss to diarrhoea, dehydration and loss of body ions

Covered syllabus points

10.1.1—Pathogen as a disease-causing organism10.1.2—Transmissible disease as a disease10.1.3—Pathogen is transmitted: (a) by direct10.1.4—Body defences10.1.5—Controlling disease spread10.1.6—Active immunity as defence against10.1.7—Each pathogen has its own antigens10.1.8—Antibodies as proteins that bind10.1.9—Specific antibodies have complementary10.1.10—Active immunity is gained after10.1.11—Process of vaccination: (a) weakened10.1.12—Role of vaccination in controlling10.1.13—Passive immunity is a short-term10.1.14—Importance of breast-feeding10.1.15—Memory cells are not produced10.1.16—Cholera as a disease caused10.1.17—Cholera bacterium produces a toxin

Question 1

[Maximum number: 1]

Campylobacter is a bacterium that can cause food poisoning.
Which word describes Campylobacter?

A

antibody

B

disease

C

pathogen

D

symptom

Question 2

[Maximum number: 2]

Rubella and kwashiorkor are two diseases that affect children.

Rubella is a transmissible disease and kwashiorkor is a non-transmissible disease.

Define the term transmissible disease.

Question 3

[Maximum number: 11]

Fig. 6.1 is a diagram of the virus that causes measles.

Fig. 6.1

Fig. 6.1

Question (a)

(a)

Viruses and some bacteria are pathogenic. Diseases caused by pathogens are transmissible.

[ 4 ]

Question (i)

(i)

State two ways that a pathogen can be transmitted indirectly.

[ 2 ]

Question (ii)

(ii)

The body has barriers to defend itself against pathogens.

State two mechanical barriers of the body.

[ 2 ]

Question (b)

(b)

Some white blood cells produce antibodies as part of the body's defence against pathogens.

Describe the role of antibodies in defence of the body.

[ 4 ]

Question (c)

(c)

The immunity gained after infection by a pathogen is active immunity.

Explain how active immunity differs from passive immunity.

[ 3 ]
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