Gate of Infection

The gate of infection is the entrance hole in the macroorganism through which it comes into contact with pathogenic microorganisms or pathogens migrating through the lymphatic vessels. Only after entering the body through the entrance gate do microbes find themselves at the site of possible replication, and their further spectrum of action is determined. Without an entry gate, the infectious process can occur very locally and have limited consequences for the body. Aquatic invertebrates and other animals utilize symbiotic relationships with microbes without being physiologically harmed by them. However, hosts that benefit from the microbes that live with them may be threatened if their symbionts evolve too far from their behavioral patterns. A large number of phenotypically different micro