👉 True infection, or infection in its most fundamental biological sense, is the process by which a pathogen—such as a bacterium, virus, fungus, or parasite—enters and takes control of a host organism, leading to the disruption of normal cellular functions and potentially causing disease. This process involves several key steps: the pathogen must first adhere to specific receptors on the host cell surface, penetrate the cell membrane, replicate its genetic material, and often evade or manipulate the host's immune response. True infection results in the pathogen's proliferation and can lead to symptoms such as inflammation, tissue damage, and systemic effects, depending on the type of pathogen and the host's immune status. Unlike a simple invasion, true infection is a dynamic interaction where the pathogen actively exploits the host's cellular machinery for its own survival and reproduction.
