Final answer:
The breakdown of pathogen proteins into peptides is known as protein hydrolysis, not to be confused with denaturation which alters a protein's structure and potentially its function.
Step-by-step explanation:
The degradation of pathogen proteins into smaller fragments called peptides is a process commonly referred to as protein hydrolysis. This is distinct from denaturation, which refers to a change in the protein's three-dimensional structure, often caused by factors such as heat, pH changes, or chemicals, that can render proteins nonfunctional by affecting their secondary, tertiary, or quaternary structures, while the primary structure remains intact. Protein denaturation can sometimes be reversible if the denaturing agent is removed, but in some cases, it can be irreversible, thereby resulting in a loss of the protein's function.