Pathogens are microorganisms that enter the body of their hosts, develop, and cause illness in the host’s body. It just needs a host body in order to survive. Pathogens are capable of evading the immune system’s detection and response. It likewise relies on body fluids to maintain its existence. Based on the type of microbe, there are a variety of ways in which it might travel from one host to another. Pathogens, for example, can be spread by the air, bodily fluids, skin contact, and other means. To gain a better understanding of this topic, let us first go over what a pathogen is in greater detail.
Pathogens in a nutshell
The term “pathogen” refers to an organism that has the potential to cause infectious diseases in its host and is defined as follows: The majority of infections are capable of evading the immunological responses of the host, resulting in the onset of related disorders. The infection then takes advantage of the resources available in the host body to multiply before departing and spreading to a new host (like a virus).
Pathogens come in a variety of forms and can spread through a variety of routes, the most common of which being skin contact, bodily fluids, or contact with contaminated surfaces. Some diseases can be found in the form of airborne particles. Viruses, bacteria, and fungi are the most frequent pathogens found in the environment.
Pathogens are responsible for a wide range of diseases. The common cold, yellow fever, influenza, dengue fever, and other viral pathogens are all instances of viral pathogens.
Different Kinds of Pathogens
Pathogens can be classified into four kinds, in order of importance.
1. Viruses
Viruses are the most common type of pathogens. It is an infectious agent that colonises inside a living organism. They mainly damage infected cells. All these traits define pathogenic viruses. Only a few antiviral medicines can kill these viruses.
2. Fungi
On the plant, there are millions of different fungus species. Not every one of them is a disease-causing agent. It is estimated that just roughly 300 of these are responsible for disease. Fungi can be found almost anywhere, whether on the surface of the skin or within your food. They are only harmful if they grow to an excessive size.
Fungi have two layers of protection, a membrane and a cell wall, and they are extremely difficult to eradicate once they have established themselves. Depending on the type of fungal infection, the severity of the illness might range from mild to severe.
3. Bacteria
Bacteria are yet another sort of pathogen that can cause illness in humans. It is a single-celled organism that is tiny in size. Not all bacteria are pathogenic, just as not all fungi are pathogenic. Some bacteria are good for human health, and they are known as beneficial bacteria. For example, lactobacillus bacteria can be found in curd.
Viruses and bacteria that cause infection are classified as pathogenic. Antibiotics are usually effective in the treatment of bacterial illnesses.
4. Parasites
This harmful bacterium persists and thrives in the body of its host, reaping the benefits of its presence. In exchange, it brings harm to the individual who is hosting it. Protozoa, ectoparasites, and helminths are the most common types of parasites found in the environment. It can travel by a number of different routes, including insect bites.
Pathogens spreading diseases
Pathogens infect and inflict illness on their hosts in a number of different ways. The most obvious method is to cause direct destruction to tissues or cells during replication, usually by creating toxins, which allows the pathogen to spread to new tissues or leave the cells in which it has replicated. This method is also the most common. Botulinum toxin, also known as Botox in its commercial application, is one of the most dangerous poisons known to man. Other well-known examples are tetanus, anthrax, and botulinum toxin, which is known as Botox in its commercial application.
Precautions that can be taken to ensure your safety
• Getting immunised on a consistent basis.
• Properly washing one’s hands.
• Food items should be stored with care.
• Refraining from sharing personal products with others.
• If you get symptoms like fever, vomiting, or diarrhoea, stay at home.
• Engage in sexual activity in a safe manner.
• Keep an eye out for bug bites. Make use of a substance such as a mosquito repellent.
Conclusion
According to how tightly their life cycle is tied to that of their host, pathogens are classed as facultative pathogens or obligate pathogens, respectively.
Infectious pathogens that can reproduce in conditions other than the host are referred to as facultative pathogens. They are bacteria and fungi that are prevalent in the environment and have the potential to infect humans. Many of the most troublesome hospital-acquired microorganisms engaged in the antibiotic resistance pandemic can be found there, including many of the most troublesome antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The terms facultative and accidental pathogens are sometimes used to distinguish between pathogens that only infect weakened or immunocompromised hosts on an infrequent basis and those that infect healthy hosts more frequently. The bacteria Neisseria meningitidis and Escherichia coli are two examples of ‘accidental’ infections that occur often.
Some diseases are required to infect many hosts in order to complete their life cycle. It is usually a vertebrate that serves as the definitive host for the pathogen’s mature form, but the intermediate host (also known as a vector) is frequently an arthropod or mollusk. All viruses (such as the Zika virus), bacteria (such as Lyme disease), and protozoa (such as the Zika virus) are capable of switching between vertebrate and invertebrate hosts on a regular basis (malaria).