The document discusses infectious diseases and the immune system. It defines infectious diseases as those caused by pathogens that can be transmitted from one person to another. Examples are provided of different types of pathogens that cause infectious diseases, including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, fungi and prions. The roles of scientists like Pasteur and Koch in identifying specific microorganisms that cause diseases are summarized. An overview of the immune system is given, including nonspecific defenses like skin, mucus and white blood cells, and specific defenses like antibodies and T cells that develop memory after exposure to pathogens.