noun
- The plural of pathogenicity; the quality or degree to which a microorganism or agent is capable of causing disease.
Usage: technical; medical/scientific
Examples
- Researchers compared the pathogenicities of different bacterial strains to understand which posed the greatest health risk.
- The pathogenicities of various viral variants were assessed in laboratory studies.
- Mutations can alter the pathogenicities of pathogens, making some more or less dangerous.
- Scientists measured the pathogenicities of the fungi by observing infection rates in test subjects.
- The study examined how environmental factors influenced the pathogenicities of disease-causing organisms.