Honors Biology
Opportunistic infections are infections caused by pathogens that exploit a weakened immune system, typically occurring in individuals who are immunocompromised. These infections take advantage of the body's reduced defenses, which can be due to conditions such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, or the use of immunosuppressive medications. Understanding opportunistic infections is crucial in the context of microbial ecology and the human microbiome as they reveal the dynamic interactions between pathogens and host defenses.
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