Microbial Pathogenesis Vocabulary

noun the capacity of a microorganism to cause infection

adjective describing the ability of a microorganism to infect

• The infectivity of the virus is a major concern for public health officials.
• The infectivity of this flu strain is no joke, so make sure to wash your hands frequently.
• Dude, the infectivity of this thing is off the charts. Stay safe out there.
• His negativity has an infectivity that can bring down the whole team if we're not careful.

noun a substance that causes particles of different substances to stick together

• The adhesin protein plays a crucial role in the attachment of bacteria to host cells.
• The adhesin helps the bacteria stick to the cells.
• The sticky stuff on the bacteria that makes them cling to cells is called adhesin.
• Just like adhesin binds bacteria to cells, loyalty binds friends together.