Pathogenic bacteria

Pathogenic bacteria are bacteria that can cause disease in a host. Their effects depend on bacterial traits, the host, and the conditions of infection.

Virulence factor: A microbial feature that increases the ability to colonize a host, evade defenses, or cause damage. These traits help distinguish disease-causing bacteria from harmless members of the same species.
Bacterium: A single-celled prokaryotic organism that lacks a membrane-bound nucleus. Pathogenic bacteria are disease-causing members of this broad group of organisms.
Bacterial culture: A laboratory method that grows bacteria from a specimen for identification or testing. Culture can isolate a suspected pathogen and reveal its antimicrobial susceptibility.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis: A slow-growing bacterium that causes tuberculosis, usually affecting the lungs. It illustrates persistent infection and transmission through airborne particles.
Bacterial toxin: A poisonous molecule produced by bacteria that disrupts host cells or tissues. Some bacterial diseases result chiefly from toxins rather than direct tissue invasion.
Pathogenicity: The capacity of an organism to cause disease in a host. It names the disease-causing capacity that defines this group.
Polymerase chain reaction: A technique that amplifies selected DNA sequences for detection and analysis. PCR can detect bacterial genetic material when culture is slow or difficult.
Staphylococcus aureus: A bacterium that can colonize skin and mucosa or cause infections ranging from boils to sepsis. Its effects range from harmless carriage to severe invasive disease.
Bacterial adhesion: The attachment of bacteria to host cells or surfaces through specific molecular interactions. Attachment lets pathogens establish themselves at sites where infection begins.
Infection: The entry and multiplication of an infectious agent in a host. Infection describes bacterial establishment, which may occur with or without disease.

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