Question

Please choose the answer that best completes the blanks of this sentence in the correct order. ______ is the ability of a microbe to cause disease, whereas ______ refers to the relative severity of a disease caused by a particular microorganism.

Answer 1

Answer:

The given blanks can be filled with pathogenicity and virulence.

Explanation:

The tendency of an organism or a microbe to harm the host, which eventually results in disease is termed as pathogenicity. The concept of pathogenicity signifies the genetic constituent of the pathogen and the destruction resulting in the host because of the association between the host and the pathogen like a microbe.  

While the extent to which a pathogen or a microbe causes pathogenicity to the host is termed as virulence. The degree of virulence is generally associated with the tendency of the microbe to proliferate within the host.  

Answer 2

Answer: Pathogenicity; virulence

Explanation:

The pathogenicity of an organism ca be defined as the ability of the organism to cause disease. These organism can be bacteria, viruses, protozoa, fungus, viroid et cetera.

The small animals like larvae of some insets and the insect itself can be harmful and cause disease.

The virulence can be defined as the level of severity which is caused by an organism. How much the organism is fatal for the life of the other organism. Like of the bacterial species like E.coli are less virulent and causes less damage to the body but some of the bacterial species are C. botulinum is more virulent and can even lead to the death of the person or animal.