Agents that cause disease such as bacteria and viruses are known as what?

The term for agents that cause disease, including bacteria and viruses, is pathogens. Pathogens are microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites that can lead to infection and disease in their hosts. They invade the body, multiply, and disrupt normal bodily functions, leading to various health issues.

Antigens, on the other hand, are substances that can provoke an immune response, usually proteins found on the surface of pathogens. While they are related to the immune system's reaction to pathogens, they are not the agents that cause the disease themselves.

Allergens are substances that trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, which is different from the direct pathogenic effects of bacteria and viruses.

Infections refer to the result of the presence and multiplication of pathogenic organisms in the body, which leads to tissue damage and disease, but they do not define the agents themselves.

Thus, the correct identification of these disease-causing agents as pathogens is crucial for understanding how infections occur and how to combat various diseases.