title: Virulence and transmissibility of pathogens: what is the relationship?
abstract: The fitness of most pathogenic microorganisms depends on transmission from host to host. This requires adaptation for dissemination, translocation and survival between hosts, as well as for colonization. A complex relationship exists between these components of microbial fitness and virulence. Understanding this relationship has important implications for research and public health.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. lipsitch@biology. emory.edu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lipsitch
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Moxon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D005658:Fungi / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D009181:Mycoses / Q000635:transmission*; D010271:Parasites / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000635:transmission*; D011635:Public Health Administration; D014774:Virulence; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000635:transmission*; D014780:Viruses / Q000472:pathogenicity*