Pathogens and inflammatory stimuli can regulate mitochondrial dynamics, driving either mitochondrial fusion or fission depending on the pathogen/stimulus and cellular context. Specific examples of viruses, bacteria, and inflammatory stimuli that drive either mitochondrial fusion or fission are shown. These can affect mitochondrial dynamics through a variety of mechanisms, with modulation of DRP1 being common to many stimuli/pathogens (with the exception of IL-4, which skews towards fusion via the mitochondrial outer membrane protein FAM73b). Pathogen-driven manipulation of mitochondrial dynamics to either fusion or fission can favour pathogen persistence, replication, and/or survival, depending on the nature of the pathogen and cellular context. Red arrows indicate inhibition, green arrows indicate activation, dotted green arrows indicate positive effect on either fusion or fission. OCR, oxygen consumption rate; OXPHOS, oxidative phosphorylation; SRC, spare respiratory capacity. Created with BioRender.com.