pathogen
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pathogen
A microorganism, such as a bacterium, virus, or fungus, that can cause a disease. It is the medical technical term for a disease-causing agent.
Das Labor untersucht die Probe auf gefährliche Erreger.
The lab is testing the sample for dangerous pathogens.
'Der Erreger' (pathogen) is derived from the verb 'erregen', which here means 'verursachen' (to cause). So the pathogen is literally 'der Verursacher' (the cause) of a disease. The ending '-er' indicates the acting thing or person.
Das Virus ist der Erreger der Grippe.
The virus is the pathogen that causes the flu.
This word belongs to the technical language of medicine and biology. You often find it in medical reports, scientific texts, or news about epidemics.
Im Krankenhaus wird nach dem genauen Erreger der Infektion gesucht.
In the hospital, they are looking for the exact pathogen causing the infection.
Common combinations include 'Krankheitserreger' (pathogen) as a compound word, as well as verbs like 'einen Erreger nachweisen' (to detect a pathogen), 'übertragen' (to transmit), or 'bekämpfen' (to fight).
Mücken können gefährliche Krankheitserreger übertragen.
Mosquitoes can transmit dangerous pathogens.
bacterium
Bakterium refers to a specific type of microorganism that can be useful or harmful. Erreger, by contrast, emphasizes that a microorganism can cause a disease; it can be not only a bacterium but also a virus or fungus.
Das Labor fand in der Probe den Erreger, der die Infektion verursacht hat.
The laboratory found the pathogen that caused the infection in the sample.
Das Labor fand in der Probe ein Bakterium und untersucht nun seine Wirkung.
The laboratory found a bacterium in the sample and is now examining its effects.
