Organ Tropism

Organ tropism refers to the tendency of certain pathogens, like viruses or bacteria, to target and infect specific organs or tissues in the body. This preference is influenced by factors such as the presence of specific receptors on cells, the environment within the tissue, or the pathogen’s ability to survive there. For example, some viruses mainly infect the respiratory tract, while others may prefer liver or nervous tissue. Understanding organ tropism helps in diagnosing diseases, developing targeted treatments, and understanding how infections spread within the body.