The Best Term to Describe the General Process by Which

Question

The best term to describe the general process by which microorganisms cause diseases is known as
A) pathogenesis.
B) virulence.
C) invasion.
D) infection.

Accepted Answer

Pathogenesis refers to the entire process by which microorganisms cause diseases, including the mechanisms of infection, virulence factors, and the host response. Virulence (B) refers specifically to the degree of pathogenicity of a microorganism, while invasion (C) describes the ability of a microorganism to enter and spread within host tissues. Infection (D) simply refers to the presence and growth of a microorganism within a host, which may or may not lead to disease.