Infection biology

Infection biology is the study of host-microbe interactions. When a bacterium comes into contact with its host this is most often at an epithelial surface. As a result of this a cascade of signaling starts between the different cell types including the bacteria. The signaling allows the bacteria to adjust to the new niche an increase its ability to infect while the host cells initiate the immune response.

The signaling between host cells is not only local but will amplify between different cell types in the tissue and via the vasculature, the nervous system, the lymphatic system, and the immune system to other organs.