pathogens
Infectious microscopic agents
Pathogens are microorganisms that cause disease—bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites that invade a host and make it sick.
The term appears frequently in medical and public health contexts: The water supply was tested for pathogens.
Foodborne pathogens cause food poisoning; airborne pathogens spread through respiratory droplets.
Quantity with direction
- carrierOne that transports
- hostOne receiving guests
- reservoirLarge water storage basin
- airborneTraveling through air
droplet · bloodborne · waterborne · zoonotic · contagious · incubation · shedding · contamination
Acute viral respiratory infection
- coronavirusSpike-ringed viral family
- HIVAIDS-causing retrovirus
- norovirusContagious gastroenteritis pathogen
- hepatitisInflammatory liver condition
herpes · rabies · dengue · measles · rotavirus · rhinovirus · adenovirus · papillomavirus
Body fighting foreign threats
- antibodyProtein targeting foreign substances
- vaccineDisease prevention injection
- antibioticsBacteria-destroying medicines
- antiviralsMedicines that inhibit viruses
white blood cells · inflammation · fever · quarantine · disinfection · sterilization · pasteurization · immunity
Mosquito-borne parasitic infection
- giardiaWaterborne intestinal parasite
- tapewormSegmented intestinal parasite
- hookwormIntestinal blood-feeding nematode
- roundwormParasitic cylindrical worm
amoeba · toxoplasma · cryptosporidium · pinworm · plasmodium · helminth · protozoan · flukes
Foodborne bacterial illness
- staphylococcusSpherical bacteria in clusters
- streptococcusSpherical bacteria in chains
- listeriaFoodborne bacterial infection
- mycobacteriumGenus of tuberculosis bacteria
bacillus · vibrio · pseudomonas · spirochete · culture
Genus of filamentous fungi
- ringwormFungal skin infection
- thrushSpotted woodland vocalist
- athlete's footFungal infection of feet
- moldForm-giving container
yeast · spore · antifungal · mycosis · tinea
Collective social practices
- microscopyTechnique using powerful lenses
- PCRDNA amplification technique
- antigenImmune response inducer
- diagnosisIdentification of illness
screening · swab · biopsy · serology · biosensor · viral load · titer · laboratory
vector
Quantity with direction
airborne · droplet · bloodborne · waterborne · zoonotic · contagious · incubation · shedding · contamination · asymptomatic carrier
influenza
Acute viral respiratory infection
- coronavirusSpike-ringed viral family
- HIVAIDS-causing retrovirus
- norovirusContagious gastroenteritis pathogen
hepatitis · herpes · rabies · dengue · measles · rotavirus · rhinovirus · adenovirus · papillomavirus · poliovirus
immune response
Body fighting foreign threats
- antibodyProtein targeting foreign substances
- vaccineDisease prevention injection
- antibioticsBacteria-destroying medicines
antivirals · white blood cells · inflammation · fever · quarantine · disinfection · sterilization · pasteurization · immunity · inoculation
malaria
Mosquito-borne parasitic infection
- giardiaWaterborne intestinal parasite
- tapewormSegmented intestinal parasite
- hookwormIntestinal blood-feeding nematode
roundworm · amoeba · toxoplasma · cryptosporidium · pinworm · plasmodium · helminth · protozoan · flukes · larvae
salmonella
Foodborne bacterial illness
- staphylococcusSpherical bacteria in clusters
- streptococcusSpherical bacteria in chains
- listeriaFoodborne bacterial infection
mycobacterium · bacillus · vibrio · pseudomonas · spirochete · culture
aspergillus
Genus of filamentous fungi
- ringwormFungal skin infection
- thrushSpotted woodland vocalist
- athlete's footFungal infection of feet
culture
Collective social practices
- microscopyTechnique using powerful lenses
- PCRDNA amplification technique
- antigenImmune response inducer
diagnosis · screening · swab · biopsy · serology · biosensor · viral load · titer · laboratory · identification
- food safetyfood safety, food hygiene, food handling, food poisoning, contamination
- water testingwater quality test, water testing, water sample, water analysis, water sampling
- biologycells, DNA, cell, biology, gene
- life formsorganisms, organism, lifeforms, animal, creatures
- weaponsknife, gun, sword, swords, rifle
- Contaminantspollutants, pollutant, heavy metals, toxin, pesticides
pathogensbeneficial bacteria
Health-promoting microorganisms
probiotics · symbionts · beneficial microbes · mutualists · gut flora
pathogensantibiotics
Bacteria-destroying medicines
antimicrobials · vaccines · antibodies · antivirals · antifungals
- viral pathogensMicrobes spreading communicable disease
- airborne pathogens