What is an overt pathogen?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for a definition or explanation of what an 'overt pathogen' is, which is related to infectious diseases and microbiology.
Answer
An overt pathogen causes disease regardless of host defenses.
An overt pathogen is one that causes disease in hosts regardless of their immune defenses. It does not require the host to be immunocompromised, unlike opportunistic pathogens that cause disease only under specific circumstances.
Answer for screen readers
An overt pathogen is one that causes disease in hosts regardless of their immune defenses. It does not require the host to be immunocompromised, unlike opportunistic pathogens that cause disease only under specific circumstances.
More Information
Overt pathogens can be distinguished from opportunistic pathogens in that they have high pathogenicity and virulence, allowing them to infect healthy hosts.
Tips
A common mistake is confusing overt pathogens with opportunistic pathogens, which require specific conditions to cause disease.
Sources
- Opportunistic Infections | Definition, Types & Examples - Lesson - study.com
- Pathogens – Knowledge and References - Taylor & Francis - taylorandfrancis.com
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