Disease-producing microorganisms are known as

• A. Bacteria
• B. Viruses
• C. Pathogens
• D. Fungi

Answer: (C)

Disease-causing microorganisms are called pathogens. A pathogen is any organism that can invade the body and disrupt normal function, leading to illness. This term includes bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microbes such as protozoa and parasites. The other terms name specific kinds of microbes, but they don’t capture the idea that any of these groups can be disease-causing. Remember that many bacteria and fungi can be harmless or beneficial, but pathogens are the ones associated with disease.