| Term | Definition |
| Pathogen | an organism that is capable of producing disease in a host |
| Host | the organism that houses another organism |
| Definitive host | host that harbors a parasite while it reproduces sexually |
| Intermediate host | harbors a parasite during any part of its developmental stage except the sexual reproductive stage |
| Symbiosis | Any relationship in which two species live closely together |
| Parasitism | a symbiotic relationship whereby one organism/species benefits from the relationship and the other organism is harmed |
| Mutualism | symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit from the relationship |
| Commensalism | symbiotic relationship in which one member of the association benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed |
| Infectious disease | Disease resulting from an infectious agent: bacteria, virus, fungi, protozoa, helminths |
| Noninfectious disease | caused by any factor other than infectious organisms |
| Congenital disease | a disease that is present at birth, but not inherited |
| Endocrine diseases | due to excesses or deficiencies of hormones; diabetes, parkinson's disease, schitzophrenia |
| Neoplastic disease | Abnormal growth and reproduction of cells that lead to tumors (both benign or cancerous) |
| Iatrogenic diseases | disease caused by a medical procedure/treatment (surgical error or noscomial infection) |
| Hyaluronidase | Enzyme produced by bacteria that dissolves hyaluronic acid |
| Coagulase | an enzyme that induces coagulation |
| Streptokinase | dissolves blood clots and helps pathogens spread to body tissue |
| Exotoxin | a protein toxin secreted by an organism into the host tissue |
| Endotoxin | a toxin that is associated with the outer membrane of gram negative bacteria |
| Enterotoxin | type of exotoxin - affects cells lining GI tract |
| Virulence Factors | Structures or substances that increase an organisms ability to cause disease |
| Adhesins | proteins found on attachment pili and capsules |
| Exoenzyme | enzyme secreted to the outside of the cell |
| Toxoid | altered toxin that is no longer harmful but will alert host defenses |
| Sign | objective evidence of a disease |
| Symptom | subjective evidence of a disease |
| Syndrome | signs and symptoms indicative of a disease |
| Sequelae | secondary effects of an infection |
| Pathogenicity | capacity to produce disease |
| Virulence | the intesity of a disease |
| Attenuation | weakening of the disease producing ability of a pathogen |