Q&A: What are pathogens, and what have they done to and for us?

Francois Balloux, Lucy van Dorp

October 2017

Synopsis of Social media discussions

Several discussions highlight the article’s explanation of how a tiny fraction of microbes are pathogens, with terms like 'light read' and 'must consider' reflecting genuine interest. Words like 'didáctico-informativo' and references to scientific research suggest that readers engaged deeply with its content, recognizing its significance in understanding microbial roles in health and disease.

A
Agreement
 Moderate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the value of the publication, with some emphasizing its importance in understanding microbes and pathogens.

I
Interest
 High level of interest

The posts demonstrate high interest, referencing biological details, historical context, and recommending the article as a must-read.

E
Engagement
 Moderate level of engagement

Few discussions delve into specific content, but some include scientific references and personal opinions, indicating moderate engagement.

I
Impact
 Moderate level of impact

While not claiming groundbreaking influence, many posts recognize the article’s role in informing or changing perspectives on microbes and health threats.

Social Mentions

YouTube

2 Videos

Facebook

2 Posts

Twitter

64 Posts

Blogs

4 Articles

News

87 Articles

Metrics

Video Views

1,943

Total Likes

158

Extended Reach

1,366,842

Social Features

159

Timeline: Posts about article

Top Social Media Posts

Posts referencing the article

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  • Dr. Elden Wayne Whalen III, ShD
    @wayne_effect (Twitter)

    https://t.co/YWxY7CzF0v "Specifically, about one in a billion microbial species is a human pathogen. Indeed, approximately 1400 human pathogens have been described, whereas it has been estimated that there are one trillion microbial species on Earth, the vast majority of..."
    view full post

    February 9, 2022

  • Mg2+ Papi, the BowTied Mg2+
    @Grimhood (Twitter)

    Q&A: What are pathogens, and what have they done to and for us? https://t.co/1FybuPmwsY
    view full post

    November 5, 2021

    3

  • Julie Ward
    @julieaward707 (Twitter)

    https://t.co/tFgbiSOBOt
    view full post

    August 29, 2021

  • UCL Faculty of Life Sciences
    @UCLLifeSciences (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We know fairly little about past infectious diseases. Few pathogens leave distinctive marks on bones. Phylogenetic est…
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    June 30, 2021

    4

  • UCL Biosciences
    @uclbiosciences (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We know fairly little about past infectious diseases. Few pathogens leave distinctive marks on bones. Phylogenetic est…
    view full post

    June 30, 2021

    4

  • Saskia
    @Saskia51012764 (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We know fairly little about past infectious diseases. Few pathogens leave distinctive marks on bones. Phylogenetic est…
    view full post

    June 29, 2021

    4

  • Karl Erbach
    @KarlErbach (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We know fairly little about past infectious diseases. Few pathogens leave distinctive marks on bones. Phylogenetic est…
    view full post

    June 29, 2021

    4

  • Prof Francois Balloux
    @BallouxFrancois (Twitter)

    We know fairly little about past infectious diseases. Few pathogens leave distinctive marks on bones. Phylogenetic estimates based on modern samples are problematic. The best approach is to directly retrieve genetic material from ancient remains. https://t.co/ZxLzipTZ2B 2/ https://t.co/8LBuqOt2w5
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    June 29, 2021

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  • Prof Francois Balloux
    @BallouxFrancois (Twitter)

    @GazetteCoco You're most welcome. For a light read that touches on this, you may have a look at a paperlet we wrote with @LucyvanDorp. For a proper, mathematical take on this you would have to read the wonderful book by Anderson and May (https://t.co/iwPs4tXQVy) https://t.co/ZxLzipTZ2B
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    December 19, 2020

    3

  • Prof Francois Balloux
    @BallouxFrancois (Twitter)

    @federicolois @PartofIm @maestro_rayo Myxomatosis is still an extremely lethal pathogen (50-95% mortality) ... of rabbits allegedly. For more see e.g. https://t.co/shtEWDcZzC, or even more (below). https://t.co/ZxLzipTZ2B:
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    September 6, 2020

  • Ian
    @nandimedics (Twitter)

    @Stf841 @DrTarekArab @jw_bagpuss @DrAseemMalhotra The "toxins" you are so worried about are in smaller quantities that are naturally ingested / exist within the human body. As you claim to be a BioSci then perhaps you can read this about viruses being pathogenic https://t.co/dbvaZVYkSY
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    August 31, 2020

  • Noam Leviatan נעם לויתן
    @Noams_Ark (Twitter)

    קצת קישורים לקוראי מאמרים: https://t.co/xXmS9tKzCz https://t.co/x4V2qMYmkn https://t.co/zyblZfdaBX https://t.co/ni7br2R6MK https://t.co/Wyb8PE6hOJ
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    August 17, 2020

    10

  • Sofía Flores Fuentes
    @Soflofu (Twitter)

    @astromicronauta De acuerdo con este documento publicado en BMC biology, una cosa es un patógeno y otra es su virulencia. De ahí que los asintomáticos, sí, están infectados por un patógeno. Saludos. https://t.co/GFojy3GoPB https://t.co/Se1BBR0VK3
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    June 12, 2020

    1

  • Jane Smith
    @JaneSmi56759572 (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    May 5, 2020

    51

  • Swaine Chen
    @swaine_chen (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 26, 2020

    51

  • Mari Ruiz
    @mariruilo (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 26, 2020

    51

  • David Castro
    @DavidCPuentes (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 22, 2020

    51

  • Bassaces
    @Bassaces1 (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
    view full post

    April 22, 2020

    51

  • Belisa
    @belisadeluna (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
    view full post

    April 22, 2020

    51

  • David Patiño
    @Davidpati (Twitter)

    RT @osfa_11: Me pareció muy didáctico-informativo está artículo del epidemiólogo-tuitero @BallouxFrancois sobre la biología & historia de i…
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    April 22, 2020

    1

  • Tesla Shuttle
    @TeslaShuttle (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 22, 2020

    51

  • Asieo La Esperanza Zurite
    @vortice_2_0 (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
    view full post

    April 22, 2020

    51

  • osfa veladoz
    @osfa_11 (Twitter)

    Me pareció muy didáctico-informativo está artículo del epidemiólogo-tuitero @BallouxFrancois sobre la biología & historia de infecciones y epidemia, para tratar de comprender si estamos en situación apocalíptica o relativamente »normal @Davidpati @tduartea https://t.co/6vRGKMTPe8
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    April 22, 2020

    1

    1

  • BMC Biology
    @BMCBiology (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 22, 2020

    51

  • Filipe Rebello
    @FilipeRebello1 (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
    view full post

    April 22, 2020

    51

  • Omar Dario Peña Niño
    @odpenan (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 22, 2020

    51

  • NeLLi
    @NeLLi_LK (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
    view full post

    April 22, 2020

    51

  • G O
    @germanome (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 22, 2020

    51

  • Yo nocturno
    @mialteregodice9 (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • Silvana
    @silvana_valeria (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • David S. Eslava-Quintero
    @dasesqui (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • GustavoMartinez
    @Gustavo91m (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • Alejandro Gaviria
    @agaviriau (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • Eoin Hennessy
    @eoinhennessy (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • Nikolas_Yezhov, Esq.
    @Nikolas_Yezhov (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • Ettel
    @Ettel_wen (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • Впевненно
    @PoltWhite (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • iamdeivid
    @iamdeivid2 (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • Iiro Koppinen
    @IiroKoppinen (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • Maha Farhat
    @MahaFarhat (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • Karen Hyland
    @kah637 (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • Aida Andrés
    @AidaAndres (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • Dr Simon Ashworth
    @DrSimonAshworth (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • Dr Ghada Shawli | د. غادة شاولي
    @Ghadavirol (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • Zamin Iqbal
    @ZaminIqbal (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • Schrodinger's Cat
    @SVDMatrix (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • Ruishan
    @freesandstorm (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • Karen
    @TangerineSki (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • COVID19 Experts Information
    @covid19_experts (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • Geraint Williams
    @geraintx86 (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • Paramo
    @RoboTan13 (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • ꀘꍏ꓄ꃅꂦ꒒ꂦꁅꀤꌗ꓄
    @Kathologist (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • Madhusree
    @Madhusree1 (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • BrianSheehan
    @BrianSheehan (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • Josh Schmidt
    @josh_schmidt1 (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • Matt Bond
    @tugsandtost (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • Stephen B. Streater
    @video4me (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • Adan Pulido
    @AdanPuli (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • alexis castaneda
    @alex_castaneda_ (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

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  • Deirdre Gilhawley
    @DeeGilhawley (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

    51

  • Caitlyn
    @Caitlnn (Twitter)

    RT @BallouxFrancois: We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit nic…
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    April 21, 2020

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  • Prof Francois Balloux
    @BallouxFrancois (Twitter)

    We wrote a Q&A on pathogens, plagues and pestilence with @LucyvanDorp in the pre-Covid19 era, when this was a bit niche. The piece answers several questions I encounter on Twitter now, and includes its fair share of quirky facts/factoids about infection. https://t.co/ZxLzipTZ2B https://t.co/qiLL6BjT1j
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    April 21, 2020

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  • Lucas_Homelander_Hood
    @NotAlsoKnownAs (Twitter)

    @AdamSerwer Here's a fun read! https://t.co/n6GckDI8s5
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    March 24, 2020

  • Gilberto Medina
    @gilbertojesus58 (Twitter)

    De lectura obligatoria. "No estamos solos." https://t.co/XRwugfvDcI
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    May 11, 2019

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Abstract Synopsis

  • Microbes, including bacteria, are found all around us and inside us, especially in our gut, outnumbering our human cells, and most are harmless or beneficial, supporting health in humans, animals, and plants.
  • Some microbes are pathogens, which can cause harmful diseases by damaging their hosts, and these infectious diseases have historically been the leading cause of death in humans, influencing our evolution and history.
  • Overall, microbes have played a dual role: most are helpful, but some are dangerous pathogens that have shaped human populations and our evolutionary path over time.]