'pathogen-based' originates from Modern English, formed by combining 'pathogen' and 'based', where 'pathogen' originally meant 'disease-producing organism' (from Greek elements) and 'based' means 'having a base in or depending on'.

'pathogen' comes via New Latin from Greek 'pathos' (suffering, disease) + '-gen' (producing), entering English in the late 19th century; 'base' comes from Old French/Latin/Greek roots (Latin/Greek 'basis' via Old French 'base'), with 'based' as the adjectival/past-participle form developing in English. The compound 'pathogen-based' is a modern English formation combining these elements to describe something founded on or derived from a pathogen.

Initially the components referred to 'disease' (pathos) and 'foundation' (base); over time the combined form came to mean 'having origin in or depending on a pathogen' — i.e., 'pathogen-based'.