levels of virulence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "levels of virulence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing the severity or harmfulness of pathogens or diseases. Example: "Researchers are studying the levels of virulence in different strains of the virus to understand their impact on public health."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

In Australian rabbits, myxomatosis initially caused a case fatality rate of ~99.9%, quickly evolved to intermediate levels of virulence [ 47], and later become more virulent [ 48].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Whether this effect can also help explain different levels of virulence between parasites clones remains unclear, as in one case the more virulent clone induced faster rates of RBC production (Haydon et al., 2003) and in the other, the opposite was true (Mideo et al., 2008).

Cellular Microbiology

The bacterial disease was first discovered in Japan 25 years ago and has four known strains with varying levels of virulence.

The New York Times

This process of coevolution results not in benign coexistence but in levels of virulence (ability to damage tissues) shaped to maximize the rate of pathogen spread.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Strains of Bacillus sphaericus exhibit varying levels of virulence against mosquito larvae.

Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology

However, P. infestans shows clearly reduced levels of virulence relative to P. palmivora and P. capsici.

Plosone

We investigate the impact of parasitism at different levels of virulence, expressed in terms of the case mortality due to infection, χ = α/(α+γ1+γ2).

Plosone

Therefore, it is not surprising that in our study some of the B. pseudomallei strains did not exhibit similar levels of virulence in both C. elegans and mice.

Plosone

Preclinical experiments have clearly demonstrated that M. tuberculosis isolates exhibit different levels of virulence and induce various immune responses in animal models [2] [4].

Plosone

These findings demonstrate that the EHEC O157 H7 lineage associated with HUS expresses higher levels of virulence genes and has an enhanced ability to attach to epithelial cells relative to another common lineage.

Plosone

Thus, complementation of the KKF332 mutant with pfopC restored acid phosphatase activity localization, inhibition of IFN-γ-mediated responses, as well as levels of virulence observed for the wildtype organism in the murine pulmonary tularemia model.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the evolution of diseases, specify whether you are referring to increasing, decreasing or intermediate "levels of virulence" to provide a clear understanding of the pathogen's changing characteristics.

Common error

Ensure your comparisons of "levels of virulence" are clear. Instead of stating that one strain has 'high virulence', specify in comparison to what. For instance, clarify whether it's higher than a previous strain, another co-existing strain or a lab-controlled baseline.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "levels of virulence" functions as a noun phrase that modifies a subject in a sentence. It typically indicates the degree or intensity of a pathogen's ability to cause damage or disease. Ludwig AI shows that this phrase is correctly and frequently used in scientific and medical contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

95%

News & Media

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "levels of virulence" is a grammatically sound and very common expression used to describe the degree of pathogenicity of a disease or pathogen. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, this phrase serves to quantify and compare the harmfulness of different strains or conditions. As indicated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correctly used in a variety of sources. Alternatives such as "degrees of pathogenicity" or "virulence intensities" offer similar meanings, while careful comparison and clear specification of virulence measurements are crucial for effective scientific communication. Understanding the register and appropriate contexts ensures accurate and impactful usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

degrees of pathogenicity

Focuses on the capacity of a pathogen to cause disease, similar to virulence but emphasizes the disease-causing aspect.

virulence intensities

Highlights the strength or degree of the virulence.

grades of virulence

Uses "grades" to denote different levels on a scale of virulence.

virulence scales

Suggests a range or measurement system for virulence.

severity of infection

Emphasizes the impact and seriousness of the infection caused by the pathogen.

pathogenic potential

Refers to the inherent ability of a pathogen to cause harm.

disease-causing capacity

Focuses on the ability to induce disease.

infectious strength

Highlights how effectively a pathogen can cause infection.

hazard levels of pathogens

Emphasizes the risk and danger associated with different pathogens.

toxic potencies of strains

Specifically refers to the toxic effects and strengths of different strains of a pathogen.

FAQs

How can I describe different intensities of a disease's harmfulness?

You can use phrases like "degrees of pathogenicity", "virulence intensities", or "grades of virulence" to describe varying "levels of virulence".

What is another way to refer to a pathogen's ability to cause harm?

Instead of "levels of virulence", consider using terms like "pathogenic potential", "disease-causing capacity", or "infectious strength" to convey the same concept.

Which is more accurate, "levels of virulence" or "degrees of virulence"?

Both "levels of virulence" and "degrees of virulence" are acceptable. The choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis. "Levels" suggests a measured amount, while "degrees" indicates a scale or gradation.

How do "levels of virulence" relate to the evolution of a pathogen?

Changes in "levels of virulence" are central to pathogen evolution. Over time, pathogens may evolve to increase or decrease their virulence based on factors such as host immunity and transmission efficiency. Understanding these shifts is crucial for predicting and controlling disease outbreaks.