Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 23, 2026

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria
Published on: February 23, 2014
The evolution of virulence and emerging diseases
1Department of Biology, Amherst College, MA 01002, USA. pwewald@amherst.edu
Abstract:
Insights into the evolution of virulence may aid efforts to control or even prevent emerging diseases. Specifically, dangerous pathogens can be distinguished from those that pose relatively little threat by identifying characteristics that favor intense exploitation of hosts by pathogens, hence causing high virulence. Studies to date have implicated several such characteristics, including transmission by vectors, attendants, water, and durable propagules. These insights may improve the return on investments in disease control by directing effort and resources to the most-dangerous emerging pathogens. The approach also should help us to identify those control measures that will guard against the future emergence of dangerous pathogens, even those that have not yet been identified.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Viral Recombination
Viral Mutations
Evolution of New Traits in Microbes
Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence
Determinants of Bacterial Pathogenicity and Virulence
Regulation of Bacterial Virulence

