Virulence factors are traits of a microbe that promote its ability to cause disease and include a variety of components such as:
- Toxins (exotoxins and endotoxins)
- Adhesins (structures that help bacteria adhere to host tissues)
- Invasiveness (ability to penetrate and spread within host tissues)
- Immune evasion mechanisms (such as the production of capsules or antigenic variation)
Without additional context, "all except" could refer to something that is not considered a virulence factor. An example of something that is typically not classified as a virulence factor could be:
- Metabolic capabilities (such as fermentation or respiration pathways that do not directly aid in the ability to cause disease)
If you have specific options or a more detailed list, I can help clarify further.