What Often Determines the Host Range of a Pathogen

Question

What often determines the host range of a pathogen?
A)It's ability to replicate inside a host cell.
B)The exit strategy of the pathogen.
C)The ability of pathogen to attach to a host cell.
D)It's ability to destroy antibody.
E)Nutrient availability.

Accepted Answer

The ability of a pathogen to attach to a host cell is a major determinant of its host range. If the pathogen is not able to attach to the receptors on a host cell, it cannot enter the cell and replicate within it, and thus cannot establish an infection in that host.