👉 The infection cycle is a fundamental process in the life of many pathogens, particularly viruses and bacteria, that involves several key stages. It begins when a pathogen enters a host through various routes such as respiratory droplets, contaminated food or water, or direct contact. Once inside, the pathogen starts to replicate, often hijacking the host's cellular machinery to produce more copies of itself. This replication can lead to cell damage or death. During this phase, the pathogen may also begin to spread within the host, either locally or systemically, depending on its nature. For viruses, this often involves attaching to and entering host cells, where they release their genetic material to hijack cellular processes for replication. Bacteria might release toxins or enzymes that facilitate their spread or evade the immune system. Eventually, the pathogen reaches a stage where it can either cause disease symptoms or be eliminated by the host's immune response. This cycle of infection, replication, and potential spread continues until the host either recovers or the pathogen is cleared, leading to the termination of the cycle.
