identifier: METPO:1004000 label: pathogenic to host definition: A phenotype where a microbe is a pathogen of some host organism. definition_source: DOI:10.1146/annurev.micro.62.081307.162938 trait_category: ECOLOGY term_kind: CLASS mapping_status: REVIEWED parent_traits: - METPO:1000059 synonyms: - synonym_text: General.keywords synonym_type: RELATED_SYNONYM source: metpo.owl - synonym_text: Safety information.risk assessment synonym_type: RELATED_SYNONYM source: metpo.owl evidence: - reference: DOI:10.1146/annurev.micro.62.081307.162938 snippet: virulence factors notes: Virulence-factor review supports the encoding of dedicated virulence factors as the molecular basis of host pathogenicity. - reference: DOI:10.1038/nrmicro1592 snippet: secretion systems notes: Secretion-systems review supports protein secretion machineries as central effectors of host pathogenicity across kingdoms. canonical_examples: - taxon_id: NCBITaxon:287 taxon_label: Pseudomonas aeruginosa note: "opportunistic pathogen" reference: PMID:31597590 - taxon_id: NCBITaxon:1280 taxon_label: Staphylococcus aureus note: "host pathogen" reference: PMID:33522395 causal_graphs: - graph_id: pathogenic_to_host_virulence_factor_program title: Pathogenic-to-host virulence-factor program description: DOI-backed graph linking encoded virulence factors, secretion-based effector delivery, host colonization, and host damage to the pathogenic-to-host phenotype. nodes: - node_id: pathogenic_to_host_trait label: pathogenic to host node_type: TRAIT grounding: METPO:1004000 description: Ability to cause disease in a host organism. - node_id: virulence_factors label: virulence factors node_type: GENE_OR_PROTEIN description: Encoded toxins, adhesins, and effector proteins enabling host colonization and damage. - node_id: secretion_systems label: protein secretion systems node_type: GENE_OR_PROTEIN description: Dedicated secretion machineries (e.g., T3SS, T4SS, T6SS) delivering effectors to host cells. - node_id: host_colonization label: host colonization node_type: BIOLOGICAL_PROCESS description: Establishment of microbial growth within host tissues. - node_id: host_damage label: host damage node_type: BIOLOGICAL_PROCESS description: Tissue, cell, or systemic damage produced in the host. - node_id: quorum_sensing_autoinducers label: quorum sensing autoinducers node_type: CHEMICAL description: Hormone-like signaling molecules that accumulate with cell density and trigger sensor proteins. - node_id: virulence_gene_expression label: virulence gene expression node_type: BIOLOGICAL_PROCESS description: Global up-regulation of virulence-factor genes in response to regulatory signals. - node_id: biofilm_formation label: biofilm formation node_type: BIOLOGICAL_PROCESS description: Formation and maturation of structured surface-attached microbial communities. grounding: GO:0042710 - node_id: persistent_infection label: persistent infection node_type: BIOLOGICAL_PROCESS description: Chronic/persistent infection of the host enabled by biofilm communities. - node_id: biofilm_matrix label: biofilm extracellular matrix node_type: CELLULAR_LOCALIZATION description: Extracellular polymeric matrix (EPS) enclosing biofilm cells. - node_id: antibiotic_tolerance label: antibiotic tolerance node_type: BIOLOGICAL_PROCESS description: Reduced susceptibility of biofilm cells to antimicrobials due to limited penetration. - node_id: immune_evasion label: host immune evasion node_type: BIOLOGICAL_PROCESS description: Avoidance or subversion of host immune defenses (e.g., phagocytosis, immune clearance). - node_id: capsule label: polysaccharide capsule node_type: CELLULAR_LOCALIZATION description: Antiphagocytic polysaccharide surface capsule. - node_id: horizontal_gene_transfer label: horizontal gene transfer node_type: BIOLOGICAL_PROCESS description: Acquisition and recombination of mobile genetic elements driving host adaptation. grounding: GO:0009292 edges: - subject: virulence_factors predicate: enables object: host_colonization description: Virulence factors enable adhesion, immune evasion, and tissue invasion required for host colonization. evidence: - reference: DOI:10.1146/annurev.micro.62.081307.162938 snippet: virulence factors notes: Supports virulence factors as enablers of host colonization. predicate_id: RO:0002327 - subject: secretion_systems predicate: delivers object: virulence_factors description: Bacterial protein secretion systems deliver effector virulence factors into host environments or host cells. evidence: - reference: DOI:10.1038/nrmicro1592 snippet: secretion systems notes: Supports secretion systems as delivery machinery for effectors. - subject: host_colonization predicate: enables object: host_damage description: Established host colonization enables sustained damage to host tissues. evidence: - reference: DOI:10.1146/annurev.micro.62.081307.162938 snippet: virulence factors notes: Supports the colonization-to-damage progression characteristic of pathogens. predicate_id: RO:0002327 - subject: host_damage predicate: manifests as object: pathogenic_to_host_trait description: Host damage manifests the pathogenic-to-host trait. evidence: - reference: DOI:10.1146/annurev.micro.62.081307.162938 snippet: virulence factors notes: Supports the trait endpoint. predicate_id: METPO:2007400 - subject: quorum_sensing_autoinducers predicate: activates object: virulence_gene_expression description: Quorum-sensing autoinducers trigger sensor proteins that drive global virulence gene expression. evidence: - reference: DOI:10.3390/ijms25052655 notes: Autoinducers are hormone-like molecules triggering sensor proteins to mediate changes in global gene expression; QS controls virulence factor production. predicate_id: RO:0002213 - subject: quorum_sensing_autoinducers predicate: promotes object: biofilm_formation description: Quorum sensing is crucial for biofilm formation and maintenance. evidence: - reference: DOI:10.1016/j.tcsw.2024.100133 notes: QS is crucial for biofilm formation and maintenance. predicate_id: RO:0002213 - subject: biofilm_formation predicate: enables object: persistent_infection description: Biofilm communities enable chronic/persistent infection of the host. evidence: - reference: DOI:10.1016/j.tcsw.2024.100133 notes: QS-driven biofilm formation and maintenance underlies persistent infection. predicate_id: RO:0002327 - subject: biofilm_matrix predicate: enables object: antibiotic_tolerance description: The biofilm EPS matrix limits antimicrobial penetration and protects deeper-layer cells, increasing tolerance. evidence: - reference: DOI:10.3390/bacteria3030008 notes: EPS matrix protects deeper-layer cells from antimicrobials; biofilm bacteria increase resistance about 1000 fold (DOI:10.3390/ijms25052655). predicate_id: RO:0002327 - subject: biofilm_formation predicate: enables object: immune_evasion description: Biofilms help bacteria evade the host immune response, supporting chronic infection. evidence: - reference: DOI:10.3390/antibiotics13070619 notes: Biofilms help bacteria evade the immune response. predicate_id: RO:0002327 - subject: capsule predicate: enables object: immune_evasion description: An antiphagocytic polysaccharide capsule resists phagocytosis, aiding immune evasion. evidence: - reference: DOI:10.58532/nbennurmmch1 notes: An antiphagocytic capsule aids immune evasion; polysaccharide capsule resists phagocytosis to increase virulence. predicate_id: RO:0002327 - subject: immune_evasion predicate: enables object: host_colonization description: Evasion of host immune defenses permits sustained microbial growth within host tissues. evidence: - reference: DOI:10.58532/nbennurmmch1 notes: Immune evasion via antiphagocytic capsule supports establishment within the host. predicate_id: RO:0002327 - subject: horizontal_gene_transfer predicate: contributes to object: virulence_factors description: Horizontal gene transfer, recombination, and gene gain/loss drive acquisition of virulence-associated host-adaptation traits. evidence: - reference: DOI:10.1093/femsre/fuae019 notes: Horizontal gene transfer, gene acquisition and deletion, and genome rearrangements are major drivers of host adaptation. predicate_id: RO:0002326 curation_history: - timestamp: '2026-05-05T01:35:46.948130+00:00' curator: seed_from_metpo action: SEEDED_FROM_METPO changes: imported from data/raw/metpo.owl (CLASS) llm_assisted: false - timestamp: '2026-05-11T23:15:00-07:00' curator: claude action: CURATED_CAUSAL_GRAPH changes: Added DOI-backed causal graph linking virulence factors, secretion systems, host colonization, and host damage to the pathogenic-to-host trait. llm_assisted: true - timestamp: '2026-05-20T03:35:29Z' curator: claude action: GROUND_CAUSAL_PREDICATES changes: Grounded 2 causal-edge predicate_id field(s) via mappings/predicate_grounding.tsv (RO:0002327×2). llm_assisted: true - timestamp: '2026-05-23T21:30:06Z' curator: claude action: GROUND_CAUSAL_PREDICATES changes: Grounded 1 causal-edge predicate_id field(s) via mappings/predicate_grounding.tsv (METPO:2007400×1). llm_assisted: true - timestamp: '2026-06-23T00:00:00Z' curator: claude action: ENRICH_CAUSAL_GRAPH changes: Added 8 evidence-backed generic edges (9 new nodes) from the deep-research report. llm_assisted: true - timestamp: '2026-06-24T17:21:09Z' curator: claude action: GROUND_CAUSAL_PREDICATES changes: Grounded 8 causal-edge predicate_id field(s) via mappings/predicate_grounding.tsv (RO:0002327×5, RO:0002213×2, RO:0002326×1). llm_assisted: true - timestamp: '2026-06-24T17:21:16Z' curator: claude action: GROUND_CAUSAL_NODES changes: Grounded 1 causal-node grounding field(s) via mappings/node_grounding.tsv (GO:0009292×1). llm_assisted: true - timestamp: '2026-06-24T17:23:29Z' curator: claude action: GROUND_CAUSAL_NODES changes: Grounded 1 causal-node grounding field(s) via mappings/node_grounding.tsv (GO:0042710×1). llm_assisted: true