Pathogenecity of Microorganisms
Pathogenecity refers to the ability of microorganism to cause the
disease in animals and humans. Infectious diseases more often result due to
the interactions between the disease producing pathogenic microorganisms
and host organisms.
The Pathogenic adaptations
The Pathogenecity of the microbes is due to several phenomena or
adaptations.
1. Pathogens are able to selectively attach to the external surfaces such as
the skin and conjunctiva or the internal surfaces such as the mucus
membranes of the respiratory, gastrointestinal or urinogenital tracts.
2. They also penetrate the above body surfaces and gain access to the
internal tissues.
3. In some infections, the pathogen may remain localized, growing near its
point of entry into the body.
4. Some pathogens become widely distributed in different tissues or organs.
This is called generalized infections.
5. Some other pathogens can grow within the cells of host, causing severe
disturbances to normal physiological processes.
6. Yet another group, may grow extracellularly and bring damage to the body
tissues by elaborating substances called toxins. (Pathogenecity)
The pathogenecity differs in different strains of pathogenic species.
Some strains are highly virulent. In the case of virulent strains, only a few
bacterial cells may suffice to cause disease in a host. On the contrary, other
strains may be less virulent, and large numbers of cells may be needed to
cause the disease. Some strains may be avirulent, and are incapable of
causing the disease even when large numbers of cells are inoculated into the
host. Such avirulent strains are called attenuated strains. These are widely
used as vaccines to elicit the immunity.
Related Topics in Zoology:
Bio Zoology All Important Topics
- Microbiology Introduction and History of Medical Microbiology
- Pasteur, Koch, Lister
- Structure of Viruses
- Viral genetics
- Virus Culture
- Viral Diseases
- Bacteria Structure Culture
- Bacterial Genetics
- Bacterial Diseases
- Protozoan microbiology
- Pathogenecity of Microorganisms
- Antimicrobial Resistance
- Antibiotics and Chemotherapy
- AIDS – HIV