👉 The term "gifts of infection" refers to the unintended benefits that pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria, can provide to their hosts or environments, often overshadowing the harmful effects they cause. These gifts can include enhanced survival and transmission mechanisms for the pathogens, such as increased virulence in certain conditions or the ability to manipulate host immune responses to their advantage. For example, some bacteria produce toxins that can stimulate an immune response, inadvertently aiding their spread by drawing attention to themselves. Additionally, infections can sometimes lead to beneficial microbial shifts in the gut microbiome, which might improve host health in unexpected ways. However, these positive outcomes are typically overshadowed by the immediate and often severe health impacts of the infection itself.
