Isäntäsoluista

Isäntäsoluista is a Finnish term that translates to "host cells" in English. In biology, a host cell is any cell that is infected by a pathogenic organism, such as a virus, bacterium, fungus, or protozoan. These pathogens hijack the host cell's machinery to replicate and spread.

Viruses, for example, are obligate intracellular parasites, meaning they cannot reproduce on their own. They inject their genetic material into a host cell and force it to produce new viral particles. Bacteria can also live inside host cells, either as intracellular pathogens that actively invade and destroy the cell, or as commensals or mutualists that coexist with the cell. Fungi and protozoa can also infect host cells, leading to various diseases.

The interaction between a pathogen and its host cell is crucial for understanding the disease process. Scientists study host cells to develop antiviral or antibacterial drugs and to understand how the immune system responds to infections. The study of host-pathogen interactions is a significant area of research in microbiology, virology, and immunology.