| behavioural pathogen | The personal habits and lifestyle behaviours of an individual which are associated with an increased risk of physical illness and dysfunction. See: risk factor. Compare: behavioural immunogen. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| pathogen | <microbiology> Any disease producing microorganism. Origin: Gr. Gennan = to produce (18 Nov 1997) |
| specific pathogen-free organisms | Animals or humans raised in the absence of a particular disease-causing virus or other microorganism. Less frequently plants are cultivated pathogen-free. (12 Dec 1998) |
| opportunistic pathogen | <microbiology> Pathogenic organism that is often normally a commensal, but which gives rise to infection in immunocompromised hosts. (18 Nov 1997) |