Patogenet

Patogenet is a term occasionally encountered in scientific writing to denote the study of how pathogens cause disease at the genetic and molecular level, or to describe a field concerned with the genetic determinants of pathogenicity. It is not a standardized discipline with formal curricula, and its usage varies by language and author. In most current microbiology and medical literature, the more common terms pathogenesis, pathogenetics, or pathogenomics are preferred to describe these topics.

Scope and methods: Proponents of the patogenet concept would examine virulence factors, host-pathogen interactions, immune evasion, and the evolution of pathogenic traits. Research in this area employs comparative and functional genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics, CRISPR-based functional screens, and established infection models, including in vitro systems and animal models.

Applications: A patogenet-oriented perspective can inform vaccine design, antimicrobial development, diagnostics, and surveillance of virulence traits. It also underlines the genetic and molecular interfaces through which pathogens interact with hosts, shaping disease outcomes.

See also: Pathogenesis; Pathogenomics; Virulence; Host-pathogen interaction; Infectious disease.