Microorganisms that result in human disease are referred to as ____________.

Microorganisms that cause disease in humans are classified as pathogens. Pathogens include a variety of organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, all of which can invade the host and elicit an immune response, leading to illness. This classification is crucial for understanding disease transmission and for implementing appropriate public health measures to control infections.

Parasites can cause disease, but they represent just one category of pathogens. Spores are a form that some microorganisms take on to survive harsh conditions and do not inherently cause disease, while vegetative cells are the active form of bacteria but not all vegetative cells are pathogenic. Thus, the term "pathogen" encompasses a broader range of microorganisms that can lead to disease in humans.