Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Host Pathogen Interaction

Host pathogen interaction takes place between a pathogen and a host. Pathogens include bacteria, fungi and viruses. Each of these several types of organisms can then be further classified as a pathogen based on its mode of transmission. This includes the following: food borne, airborne, waterborne, blood borne, and vector-borne. Many pathogenic bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium botulinum are food borne pathogens that secrete toxins into the host to cause symptoms. HIV and Hepatitis B are viral infections caused by blood borne pathogens, and Aspergillus is the most common pathogenic fungi that secretes aflatoxin which acts as a carcinogen and contaminates many foods, especially those grown underground (nuts, potatoes, etc.,).