Biological Contaminants: Pathogens

This lecture covers the definition of biological contaminants, focusing on microorganisms like bacteria, protozoa, helminths, and viruses that are pathogenic for humans or animals. It discusses the fecal-oral transmission of pathogens, emerging pathogens, mechanisms of pathogen emergence, examples of emerging infectious diseases, and the main types of pathogens with fecal-oral transmission. The lecture also explores the microbial contaminants in the tree of life, cellular structural differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes, detection methods for pathogens, and antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens. Additionally, it delves into the human microbiome, enteric bacteria, and different types of helminths, such as nematodes, cestodes, and trematodes, along with their life cycles and general characteristics.