👉 Reproductive-infection dynamics describe the interaction between an organism's reproductive processes and pathogens that can cause disease. When a pathogen infects a host, it can manipulate or exploit the host's reproductive system to enhance its own survival and transmission. For example, some pathogens may alter the host's immune response to favor their replication or dissemination, while others might directly affect reproductive organs to increase their chances of being passed on to offspring. In sexually reproducing organisms, infections can lead to infertility, reduced fertility, or even congenital defects in offspring. Conversely, in asexual organisms, pathogens can spread rapidly through direct contact, often bypassing the complexities of reproductive barriers. This interplay between reproduction and infection highlights the evolutionary arms race between hosts and pathogens, where each adapts to outmaneuver the other.
