What are biological pathogens?

Biological pathogens are agents, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, that can cause disease and harm to other living organisms. These pathogens have the ability to invade healthy cells, multiply, and disrupt normal biological functions, potentially leading to injury or even death. Their impact can be significant, affecting individual health as well as public health on a larger scale through outbreaks or epidemics.

A statement about biological pathogens being purely synthetic does not align with their definition, as they are typically biological in origin, coming from living organisms rather than being artificially created. Similarly, agents that protect against diseases are known as vaccines or immune responses, which serve a very different purpose than pathogens. Lastly, inorganic materials do not fall under the category of biological pathogens; while they can cause illness, they do so through different mechanisms and are not biological agents in nature.