What Are Pathogens And Where Do We Find Them?

Have you ever wondered what pathogens are?

The word “pathogens” has different meanings depending on the context in which it is used. A pathogen is therefore metaphorically known as an initiator of something, as a movement.

In this article we will take a closer look at what pathogens are and where we find them. Read on if you want to learn more about this fascinating microscopic world !

What are pathogens?

We define this term as any microorganism that is capable of causing disease or harm to the host, whether it is an animal or a plant. Overall, there are four main types of pathogens that we will talk about in more detail below.

Bacteria

Bacteria are prokaryotic (ie single-celled) organisms that are a few microns in size and come in different forms.

According to the Earth Microbiome Project, they estimate that there are more than a trillion species of bacteria on the planet, so we are not exaggerating when we say that they are the essential basis for every ecosystem. Depending on their morphology, they can be divided into several types:

• Chefs are spherical in shape and depend on the number of individuals that make up the structure (diplococci, tetracocci and streptococci).
• Bacillus are rod-shaped.
• Helix-shaped bacteria consist of vibrio, spirill and spirochaete.

Bacteria can be immobile or have motor skills, either using cilia or flagella that help them move. Depending on their detection method, based on the nature of the outer wall of the structure, they may be gram-negative or gram-positive. These microorganisms can be free-living or pathogenic in certain species, including humans.

What are pathogens: Viruses

Viruses are even smaller and simpler than bacteria. These pathogens consist of DNA or RNA chains (one or more of them) covered by a protein layer that gives them their three-dimensional shape.

Researchers have described around 5,000 virus species, and they can not reproduce without a host invading. Viruses hijack the cells of the patient. Furthermore, they multiply inside the cells to continue spreading the disease in the population.

Mushrooms, protozoa and the like

To keep this post as concise and informative as possible, we will summarize the rest of the pathogens below:

• Protozoa are unicellular microorganisms, similar to bacteria, but they differ from them due to their larger size and morphological complexity. They live in humid environments and can be parasites or live freely. A very clear example is the protozoan that causes malaria.
• Fungi are, in contrast to those we mentioned in the previous point, a species with complex multicellular organisms. Among these we find molds and yeasts. Some types of fungi can infect both humans and plants, forming a mycelium in the affected tissue and nourishing it.

• There are also other pathogens that are more difficult to explain, such as viroids or prions. These are RNA molecules that can infect animals or plants.

Where can you find the most pathogens?

A better question would be which part of the earth is free of them. Microorganisms dominate all environments and they surround us all the time (they are even inside us!).

Since a pathogen in the strict sense is pathogenic to other living beings, it is important to talk about its prevalence in certain public places:

• Pools and swimming parks. Here they all gather. Protozoa and fungi require moisture and viruses need many possible hosts. Any damp and crowded place is a good breeding ground for pathogens.
• Money, shopping carts, surfaces in public toilets, etc. Many viruses and bacteria remain on surfaces for a certain period of time, so the more people who are in contact with an object, the more likely it is that it has a large amount of pathogens.
• The human body. Although it may seem surprising, bacteria, which are mainly located in our intestinal tract, make up one to two kilograms of our body weight. However, these do not fall into the category of pathogens since they are not harmful to us. Nevertheless, humans present high viral loads when they suffer from a disease, such as the flu or cold.

As we have seen, the definition of pathogens falls short when it comes to including several microorganisms that cause disease in living beings. However, they all have one thing in common: They are microscopic beings who exploit the presence of others to survive, causing various diseases in the host.