Definition

1. Noun:
   • Pathogen: The specific causative agent of a disease, such as a bacterium, virus, fungus, or parasite.
   • Germ: A microorganism, especially one that causes disease.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Vi khuẩn Salmonella là một mầm bệnh phổ biến gây ngộ độc thực phẩm. (Salmonella bacteria is a common pathogen that causes food poisoning.)
  • Nước bẩn có thể chứa nhiều mầm bệnh. (Dirty water can contain many germs.)
  • Các nhà khoa học đang tìm cách ngăn chặn sự lây lan của mầm bệnh mới. (Scientists are finding ways to prevent the spread of the new pathogen.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in medical, public health, and biological contexts to discuss the origin, transmission, and control of diseases.
• It can be used metaphorically in social commentary to describe a source of corruption or a negative influence.

Variants and Related Words

• Tác nhân gây bệnh (n): Disease-causing agent. (A more formal or technical synonym for 'mầm bệnh'.)
• Vi sinh vật gây bệnh (n): Pathogenic microorganism. (Emphasizes the microbial nature of the pathogen.)

Synonyms

• Pathogen: An organism causing disease.
• Germ: A microorganism, especially one that causes disease.
• Infectious agent: An agent capable of causing infection.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Ổ chứa mầm bệnh: Reservoir of infection/pathogen.
  • Chuột là ổ chứa mầm bệnh nguy hiểm. (Rats are a dangerous reservoir of pathogens.)
• Phát tán mầm bệnh: To spread pathogens.
  • Ho không che miệng sẽ phát tán mầm bệnh. (Coughing without covering your mouth spreads germs.)