Koch's Postulate of Molecular Pathogenicity

Koch’s Postulate of Molecular Pathogenicity involves identifying the specific molecule, often a toxin or protein, produced by a pathogen that causes disease. It requires showing that this molecule is present in diseased individuals, isolating and producing it in the lab, and proving it can cause the same disease when introduced into a healthy host. This helps scientists confirm which exact part of the pathogen is responsible for disease, guiding targeted treatments and vaccines. Essentially, it links a particular molecule from a microbe directly to the illness it causes.