Which term describes microorganisms causing disease or triggering an immune response?

Which term describes microorganisms causing disease or triggering an immune response?

• A. Causative Agent
• B. Reservoir
• C. Pathogens
• D. Communicable Disease

Answer: (C)

Pathogens are microorganisms that cause disease in a host or provoke an immune response. This group includes bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites—the biological agents our immune system works to neutralize. While “causative agent” is a related term often used to name what causes a disease, the focus here is on the organisms themselves, which is best captured by pathogens. A reservoir describes where these organisms persist, and a communicable disease refers to how the disease can be spread, not the microorganisms that cause it.

Pathogens are microorganisms that cause disease in a host or provoke an immune response. This group includes bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites—the biological agents our immune system works to neutralize. While “causative agent” is a related term often used to name what causes a disease, the focus here is on the organisms themselves, which is best captured by pathogens. A reservoir describes where these organisms persist, and a communicable disease refers to how the disease can be spread, not the microorganisms that cause it.