What term refers to an organism, typically bacteria, fungus, or virus, that colonizes a host's resources?

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The term that best describes an organism, typically bacteria, fungus, or virus, that colonizes a host's resources is "infection." An infection occurs when pathogenic microorganisms invade the body and multiply, leading to potential harm to the host. This biological interaction often results in the host's immune response attempting to eliminate the invading microorganisms, which can result in symptoms or disease.

Infection is characterized by the ability of the organism to use the host's nutrients and tissues to sustain itself, effectively impacting the host's health and functioning. This definition aligns precisely with the described scenario of an organism utilizing a host's resources.

Inflammation refers to the body’s response to injury or infection but does not involve the organism itself colonizing the host. Infestation typically relates to larger organisms, such as parasites, living on or in a host rather than the microscopic pathogens listed in the question. A toxin is a poisonous substance produced by an organism, but it does not describe the act of colonization or resource utilization by organisms like bacteria or viruses.

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