The Sneaky Spreaders
Protists are the shape-shifters of the pathogen world, combining characteristics from plants, animals, and fungi all rolled into one confusing package. What makes them particularly dangerous is how they spread - usually through vectors like mosquitos that carry them from person to person. Malaria is the most notorious protist disease you'll study.
Unlike bacteria and viruses, protists are proper eukaryotes with all the standard cell structures you'd expect - nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes, and more. This makes them quite complex compared to their pathogen cousins.
Fungi can be either single-celled or made up of thread-like structures called hyphae. These hyphae are brilliant at penetrating skin and plant surfaces, which is why fungal infections like athlete's foot and ringworm are so common and persistent.
The real problem with fungi is their ability to produce spores - think of them as fungal seeds that can spread through the air to infect new hosts. Once those hyphae get established, they're notoriously difficult to shift.
Remember: Protists need vectors to spread, while fungi spread through spores - knowing how pathogens transmit is crucial for preventing infection!