Pathogenicity
Pathogenicity refers to the ability of an organism, specifically a microorganism, to cause disease (pathogenesis) in another organism. This ability is determined by the pathogen's virulence factors. The term is often used interchangeably with virulence, but some authors have drawn a distinction between the two.
Overview[edit | edit source]
Pathogenicity is the quality of causing disease, but the term is most commonly used to describe the degree to which a particular organism is pathogenic. This is often described in terms of the number of organisms required to cause disease in a host organism, with the pathogenicity increasing as the number decreases.
Determinants of Pathogenicity[edit | edit source]
The pathogenicity of an organism - its ability to cause disease - is determined by its virulence factors. These are characteristics of the organism that enable it to establish itself on or within a host of a particular species and enhance its potential to cause disease. Virulence factors include toxins, enzymes, and adhesion molecules.
Virulence Factors[edit | edit source]
Virulence factors are molecules produced by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa that add to their effectiveness and enable them to achieve the following:
- colonization of a niche in the host (this includes attachment to cells)
- immunoevasion, evasion of the host's immune response
- immunosuppression, inhibition of the host's immune response
- entry into and exit out of cells (if the pathogen is an intracellular one)
Pathogenicity vs Virulence[edit | edit source]
While the terms pathogenicity and virulence are often used interchangeably, some authors have drawn a distinction between the two. They define pathogenicity as the potential capacity to cause disease, while virulence is the degree of pathogenicity within a group or species of parasites as indicated by case fatality rates and/or the ability of the organism to invade the tissues of the host. The virulence of a microorganism's disease is its degree of pathogenicity.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
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