FIG 1.

Depiction of microbial states according to the damage response framework. The possible benefits and debits for the microbe are noted for commensalism, colonization, and disease. These states, depicted for each state as a function of damage to the host (y axis) and time (x axis), differ from one another in the amount of host damage that occurs over time (green lines). The red horizontal line denotes the amount of damage when the amount of host damage translates into clinical signs and symptoms and disease occurs. Colonization and commensalism can transition to the state of disease when the amount of host damage exceeds the virulence threshold. Possible microbial benefits and debits are shown for each microbial state.