Pathogen vs.

Antigen Activity 
 
Directions:​ Read the diagram below and answer the questions: 

 
 
1. What is a pathogen?  
A pathogen is a germ  
 
2. List 4 types of pathogen 
viruses, bacteria, Fungi and protozoa 
3. Use google to search what type of pathogen each of the following diseases is caused by. Put 
an X in the chart below showing which type of pathogen causes the disease. Malaria and 
AIDS is done for you. To search for the pathogen type in “_______ caused by” 
 
Disease  Bacteria  Virus  Fungi  Protozoa 

Malaria        X 

AIDS    X     

Strep throat  X       

Measles    X     

Measles    X     

Cholera  X       

Chickenpox  X       

Athlete’s Foot      X   
 
 
Notes: 
● Antigen​: An antigen is a protein on the outside of a cell that your immune system can 
recognize as part of your body or foreign.  
● White blood cell: ​Blood cells that is part of your immune system that perform the function 
of destroying pathogens 
 
Directions:​ The 3 of the circles below represent cells in your body. There is one one pathogen, a germ, and 
a white blood cell.  
 

 
 
 
1. Which of the circles is a Pathogen? Which of the 3 cells are body cells? 
The first 3 are the body cells and the last one is the pathogen. 
 
2. Label 1 of the mini circles “Antigen” 
3. Label 1 of the mini triangles “Antigen” 
4. How are the body cells different from the pathogen? (Now use the word antigen in your answer) 
Their different because the antigen its a different shape. 
 
5. Which cell would your white blood cells attack? Why?  
The white blood would attack the pathogen. 
 
6. Move the white blood over the cell that it would attack in the diagram above.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Practice: 
7. Move the circle over an antigen on the HIV virus below 

 
 
6) Move the circle over an antigen on the Flu virus below 
 

 
 
7) Move the circle over an antigen on the chickenpox virus below 

 
 
8) Move the circle over an antigen on the measles virus below 

 
 
10) Exit slip 
● Fill out the pathogen trading card 
○ Person A does the HIV virus 
○ Person B does the flu virus 
○ Person C does the chickenpox virus 
○ Person D does the measles virus 
● Use colored pencils to draw one of the pathogens above and label an antigen 
● Explain and describe what an antigen and pathogen are and why they are important.