Host range
Host Range
Host range (/hoʊst reɪndʒ/) refers to the collection of hosts that a parasite, virus, or other type of pathogen can infect. The concept is fundamental in the fields of epidemiology, microbiology, and virology.
Etymology
The term "host range" is derived from the English words "host" and "range". "Host" in this context refers to an organism that harbors a parasitic, a mutual, or a commensal symbiont, typically providing nourishment and shelter. "Range" refers to the extent, or scope of something.
Definition
Host range can be narrow, meaning the pathogen can infect few species, or broad if it can infect many. The host range is determined by the specific interactions between the pathogen and the host, specifically the ability of the pathogen to bind to the host, to enter the host's cells, and to overcome the host's immune response.
Related Terms
- Species specificity: The ability of a pathogen to infect a specific species.
- Tropism: The ability of a pathogen to infect specific cell types within the host.
- Zoonosis: A disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans.
- Vector (epidemiology): An organism that does not cause disease itself but spreads infection by conveying pathogens from one host to another.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Host range
- Wikipedia's article - Host range
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