are bacteria and microorganisms pathogens
Flagella and fimbriae, as well as different parts of the cell wall and cell membrane may contain receptor sites for bacterial viruses (bacteriophage) (Figure 9). However, bacteria without detectible appendages can be effective pathogens. Infectious diseases are caused by microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites and can spread between individuals. 1  Infectious diseases are caused by microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites. 2  Microorganisms that cause disease are collectively called pathogens. Other Pathogens. There are several types of molds (fungi) that are foodborne pathogens, and algae found in plankton can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning. Several other types of toxins found in seafood can also cause illness. The world of foodborne microbes contains a mix of approximately 250 different types of bacteria, viruses, parasites, molds, and algae that are known to cause disease in humans and are therefore called foodborne pathogens. You can find germs (microbes) in the air; on food, plants and animals; in soil and water — on just about every other surface, including your body. Most germs won't harm you. Your immune system protects you against infectious agents. Bacteria. Bacteria are the largest group of problematic foodborne pathogens by far. They are small, one-celled microbes that come in many shapes and are capable of reproducing themselves. Typical cell shapes include spherical (cocci), rod-shaped (bacilli), and curved or comma-shaped (spirillar). These shapes can be seen under the microscope when the bacteria are stained in the laboratory with a Gram stain or dye. Plant associated bacteria may be beneficial or detrimental. All plant surfaces have microbes on them (termed epiphytes), and some microbes live inside plants (termed endophytes). Some are residents and some are transient. Bacteria are among the microbes that successively colonize plants as they mature. Bacteria. Bacteria are one-celled organisms visible only with a microscope. They're so small that if you lined up a thousand of them end to end, they could fit across the end of a pencil eraser. Not all bacteria are harmful, and some bacteria that live in your body are helpful. For instance, Lactobacillus acidophilus — a harmless bacterium that resides in your intestines — helps you digest food, destroys some disease-causing organisms and provides nutrients. Many disease-causing bacteria produce toxins — powerful chemicals that damage cells and make you ill. Bacteria as plant pathogens can cause severe economically damaging diseases, ranging from spots, mosaic patterns or pustules on leaves (Figure 5) and fruits, or smelly tuber rots to plant death. Plant pathogenic bacteria cause many serious diseases of plants throughout the world (Vidhyasekaran 2002; Figure 2), but fewer than fungi or viruses, and they cause relatively less damage and economic cost (Kennedy and Alcorn 1980).
Yes