Bacterial virulence factors

Patent Granted Virulence factors are molecules produced by pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa) and contribute to the pathogenicity of the organism that enable them to achieve the following: colonization of a niche in the host (this includes attachment to cells) immunoevasion, evasion of the host's immune response immunosuppression, inhibition of the host's immune response entry into and exit out of cells (if the pathogen is an intracellular one) obtain nutrition from the host