Microbial Infection and Pathogenesis — Virulence Factors, Biofilms, and Toxins Explained | Chapter 25 from Brock Biology of Microorganisms
Microbial Infection and Pathogenesis — Virulence Factors, Biofilms, and Toxins Explained | Chapter 25 from Brock Biology of Microorganisms How do microbes successfully infect hosts and cause disease? Chapter 25 of Brock Biology of Microorganisms reveals the step-by-step process of microbial pathogenesis—from initial adhesion to host tissues, to evasion of immune defenses, to the deployment of potent toxins. This summary unpacks the molecular strategies of pathogenic microbes, their genetic determinants, and their real-world significance in healthcare, implants, and infectious disease control. Watch the video summary below and subscribe to Last Minute Lecture for more essential chapter breakdowns! Adherence and Colonization: The First Step in Infection For an infection to begin, pathogens must adhere to specific host tissues. This is achieved using specialized structures such as fimbriae, pili, capsules, and flagella. Microbial adhesins bind to particular host cell r...