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]
| Pathogenicity Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
