Health
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What are Bacterial Pathogens?

Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Pathogen comes from two Greek words: pathos meaning “disease” and genein meaning “to produce.” It refers to an agent or microorganism that is capable of producing disease. Prions are an example of a pathogenic agent. When it is a microorganism spreading disease, the culprit could be a fungus, a protozoan, or a bacterial pathogen. Viruses may be included as microorganisms, but since there is a controversy about whether they are living, they may also be put in the category of agents.

Not all bacteria are pathogenic, but those that are can threaten the lives of animals, people, and plants. Examples of bacterial pathogens include Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Streptococcus, Bacillus anthracis, Rickettsia, Listeria, and Salmonella. A bacteria’s pathogenicity is a measure of its ability or likeliness to cause disease, measured quantitatively as its virulence. The particular factors that account for the virulence of bacterial pathogens are referred to as virulence factors.

Salmonella, a type of bacteria.
Salmonella, a type of bacteria.

The virulence factors include a variety of properties that contribute to its success in establishing itself in or on its host and causing disease. Bacterial pathogens may have relatively few or many virulence factors. Factors that bacterial pathogens may have include producing toxins, having proteins that assist in attachment to a host, and being able to protect its own surface.

Rinsing raw chicken in a sink can spread bacteria.
Rinsing raw chicken in a sink can spread bacteria.

Another way of looking at the effectiveness of bacterial pathogens is to consider them in terms of invasiveness and toxigenesis. In this case, the ability to produce toxins that affect tissue both near and far from the point of growth or invasion is separated from all the factors that allow bacteria to successfully invade another organism.

Bacterial pathogens commence their attacks on a host through colonization, establishing themselves in the host's tissues, usually at a point that maintains contact with the external environment. With a human host, this would include the conjunctiva, the digestive tract, the respiratory tract, and the urogenital tract. The bacterial pathogens use adhesins to interact with receptors on the host cells.

Proper hand washing helps prevent the spread of disease causing pathogenic bacteria.
Proper hand washing helps prevent the spread of disease causing pathogenic bacteria.

The next stage of infection by bacterial pathogens is called invasion. The factors that can help the invading bacteria include substances called invasins that have two purposes: damaging cells of the host and enabling the spread of the bacterial pathogen.

Infectious diseases caused by bacterial pathogens may be treated by one of three different groups of antimicrobial agents. The group of naturally occurring antimicrobials is called antibiotics; the group of chemically synthesized antimicrobials is called chemotherapeutic agents; and the hybrids begin with a naturally occurring substance that is modified. Some members of the first group can now be synthesized.

Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth is passionate about reading, writing, and research, and has a penchant for correcting misinformation on the Internet. In addition to contributing articles to WiseGEEK about art, literature, and music, Mary Elizabeth is a teacher, composer, and author. She has a B.A. from the University of Chicago’s writing program and an M.A. from the University of Vermont, and she has written books, study guides, and teacher materials on language and literature, as well as music composition content for Sibelius Software.

Learn more...
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth is passionate about reading, writing, and research, and has a penchant for correcting misinformation on the Internet. In addition to contributing articles to WiseGEEK about art, literature, and music, Mary Elizabeth is a teacher, composer, and author. She has a B.A. from the University of Chicago’s writing program and an M.A. from the University of Vermont, and she has written books, study guides, and teacher materials on language and literature, as well as music composition content for Sibelius Software.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

turquoise

I think we need to clarify that all bacteria are not pathogens. They don't all cause disease. We naturally have bacteria living in and on us that are necessary for our well being. For example, we need the bacteria in our digestive tract in order to digest food properly. These do not cause illness, just the opposite, we rely on them for health.

literally45

@ZipLine-- Bacteria multiply by simply dividing into two. So a bacteria cell divides into two daughter cells. The daughter cells then grow and eventually divide into two as well. This way, bacteria can grow to large numbers in a fairly short period of time if the circumstances (nutrients, temperature, etc.) are right. But different bacteria have different generation lengths (the time it takes for a bacteria cell to divide).

This is why bacterial pathogens like E. coli for example can make someone very sick in a very short of time. E. coli is a pathogen and it can divide every half hour. When people consume something with E. coli, they usually become extremely ill within a matter of hours and need hospital care.

ZipLine

How do bacterial pathogens multiply? I read that viruses take over regular cells and use the cell for nutrients and multiplication. Do bacterial pathogens do the same?

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Salmonella, a type of bacteria.
      By: Lyuba Bunakova
      Salmonella, a type of bacteria.
    • Rinsing raw chicken in a sink can spread bacteria.
      By: Bill
      Rinsing raw chicken in a sink can spread bacteria.
    • Proper hand washing helps prevent the spread of disease causing pathogenic bacteria.
      By: byrdyak
      Proper hand washing helps prevent the spread of disease causing pathogenic bacteria.
    • Raw chicken can contaminate other foods and surfaces with Salmonella bacteria.
      By: Jacek Chabraszewski
      Raw chicken can contaminate other foods and surfaces with Salmonella bacteria.
    • Bacterial food poisoning often occurs when food is prepared or handled at improper temperatures or in a way that's unsanitary.
      By: malexeum
      Bacterial food poisoning often occurs when food is prepared or handled at improper temperatures or in a way that's unsanitary.