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The National Academies: What You Need To Know About Infectious Disease

What You Need To Know About Infectious Disease

How Infection Works

Microbes occupy all of our body surfaces, including the skin, gut, and mucous membranes. Most don’t do us any harm—in fact, many help us survive. But there are certain bacteria, viruses, and other microbial life forms that can cause illness or even death. Here we learn the basics about microbes and the fascinating relationship we have with them.

Microbes & Humans

Microbes & Humans

A human body contains at least 10 times more bacterial cells than human ones.

Microbes and humans have evolved a complex relationship over thousands of years. Find out just how interconnected we are.

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Types of Microbes

Types of Microbes

There are five major categories of infectious agents. 

Viruses, bacteria, and fungi—oh my! Learn about the different microorganisms that are the source of infectious disease in people.

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Encountering Microbes

Encountering Microbes

Microbes may be the earliest life forms on Earth.

People and microbes have always shared this planet. But changes in the way we live are affecting how and where we encounter microbes. Discover the impact of our modern way of life.

More about encountering microbes

How Pathogens Make Us Sick

How Pathogens Make Us Sick

Infection does not necessarily lead to disease.

Pathogens (microbes capable of causing disease) call our immune systems into action. Find out more about how the body responds to these tiny invaders.

More about how pathogens make us sick

Explore Other Topics

What do you know about infectious disease?

Which deadly pathogen cannot be found naturally in the wild:

  • Sorry, that’s incorrect.

    Smallpox cannot be found naturally in the wild. Smallpox was officially declared eradicated from the globe in 1980, after an 11-year WHO vaccination campaign—the first human disease to be eliminated as a naturally spread contagion. Today, the virus remains only in laboratory stockpiles.

  • Sorry, that’s incorrect.

    Smallpox cannot be found naturally in the wild. Smallpox was officially declared eradicated from the globe in 1980, after an 11-year WHO vaccination campaign—the first human disease to be eliminated as a naturally spread contagion. Today, the virus remains only in laboratory stockpiles.

  • Correct!

    Smallpox cannot be found naturally in the wild. Smallpox was officially declared eradicated from the globe in 1980, after an 11-year WHO vaccination campaign—the first human disease to be eliminated as a naturally spread contagion. Today, the virus remains only in laboratory stockpiles.

Infectious Disease Defined

Recombinant Technology

The process that allows technicians to create artificial pieces of DNA in which two or more DNA sequences, often from separate organisms, are combined in ways that would not normally occur naturally.

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