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Host (biology)
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Biology/1M1ee3pB">biology</a> and <a href="/facts/Medicine/2fnp90Je">medicine</a>, a host is a larger <a href="/facts/Organism/j8JkL09u">organism</a> that harbours a smaller <a href="/facts/Organism/j8JkL09u">organism</a>; whether a <a href="/facts/Parasite/HWPcgky7">parasitic</a>, a <a href="/facts/Mutualism_(biology)/29hCDDS2">mutualistic</a>, or a <a href="/facts/Commensalism/KnJkboX0">commensalist</a> <i>guest</i> (<a href="/facts/Symbiont/MrBArRGa">symbiont</a>). The guest is typically provided with nourishment and shelter. Examples include <a href="/facts/Animal/4b8J33nd">animals</a> playing host to parasitic <a href="/facts/Worm/FMrnWM8s">worms</a> (e.g. <a href="/facts/Nematodes/yLMJ43Eu">nematodes</a>), <a href="/facts/Cell_(biology)/bLM9UQvy">cells</a> harbouring <a href="/facts/Pathogen/axMXtV1M">pathogenic</a> (disease-causing) <a href="/facts/Virus/mf88Bcbl">viruses</a>, or a <a href="/facts/Fabaceae/uxuHNdAr">bean</a> plant hosting mutualistic (helpful) <a href="/facts/Rhizobia/xGRcYg5h">nitrogen-fixing bacteria</a>. More specifically in <a href="/facts/Botany/PaIRoxnb">botany</a>, a host plant supplies <a href="/facts/Nutrient/34bn4skK">food resources</a> to micropredators, which have an <a href="/facts/Evolutionarily_stable_strategy/6LTjs9QB">evolutionarily stable</a> relationship with their hosts similar to <a href="/facts/Ectoparasitism/HWPcgky7">ectoparasitism</a>. The <a href="/facts/Host_range/L6mop0kh">host range</a> is the collection of hosts that an organism can use as a partner. </p>