Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A disease is a condition that impairs normal tissue function, often caused by pathogenic microbes such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. It can result in clinical symptoms and signs of illness.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Pathogenicity refers to the ability of a microbe to cause disease in a host organism.
Virulence factors are molecules produced by pathogens that contribute to the pathogenicity and promote infection.
The incubation period is the time between exposure to a pathogen and the appearance of symptoms.
Diseases can be transmitted through various routes including direct contact, inhalation, ingestion, or vector-borne methods.
An infectious dose is the number of microbial cells required to start an infection in a host.