What Is the Immune System?
A computer-generated image of the rotavirus, a virus that commonly causes illness in children through inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Credit: Bridget Carragher, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California.
What do antibodies, mucus, and stomach acid have in common? They’re all parts of the immune system!
The immune system is a trained army of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to block, detect, and eliminate harmful insults to your body. It can protect you from invaders like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.
Innate and Adaptive
The immune system is often thought of as two...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - December 11, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Cells Common questions Immunology Miniseries Infectious Diseases Microbes Source Type: blogs
A 20-something with intermittent then acute chest pain
This was sent to me by a partner:" Curious what you think of this one we had overnight. Healthy male under 25 years old with a pretty good story for acute onset crushing chest pain relieved with nitro. He had another episode the day before after exerting himself. No pericardial effusion on ultrasound. "What do you think?First, many on Twitter said " Pericarditis " . This is NOT pericarditis, which virtually NEVER has ST depression any where except aVR. When there is ST depression (as in aVL, V2, V3), then top on the differential is OMI or myocarditis.See our publication: ST depression in ...
Source: Dr. Smith's ECG Blog - April 25, 2023 Category: Cardiology Authors: Steve Smith Source Type: blogs
Transmission of Enteric Viruses through Saliva
by Gertrud U. Rey Norovirus and rotavirus are considered to be enteric pathogens because they are traditionally thought to be transmitted by the fecal-oral route; i.e., when consuming food prepared by someone who did not wash their hands properly after using the bathroom. Unlike rabies virus, which replicates in the salivary glands and transmits through […] (Source: virology blog)
Source: virology blog - August 4, 2022 Category: Virology Authors: Gertrud U. Rey Tags: Basic virology Gertrud Rey enteric virus fecal-oral route IgA mammary glands norovirus rotavirus saliva salivary glands SIGA transmission Source Type: blogs
TWiV 915: Mouse mouth to mouse mom
TWiV discusses the recent decision by an FDA advisory committee to update COVID vaccines for the fall, the monkeypox virus outbreak, and the finding that enteric viruses infect the salivary glands and are transmitted through saliva. (Source: virology blog)
Source: virology blog - July 3, 2022 Category: Virology Authors: Vincent Racaniello Tags: This Week in Virology coronavirus COVID-19 enteric virus norovirus pandemic rotavirus saliva saliva transmissions salivary gland SARS-CoV-2 vaccine variant of concern viral viruses Source Type: blogs
The (sort of, partial) Father mRNA Vaccines Who Now Spreads Vaccine Misinformation (Part 1)
By DAVID WARMFLASH, MD
Robert W. Malone, MD MS, is a physician-scientist who will live in infamy, thanks to the Joe Rogan Experience Podcast boosting his visibility this past December regarding his criticism of COVID-19 vaccines, particularly the mRNA vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech). Subsequently, Malone was banned from Twitter, which further boosted his celebrity status. Describing himself as the inventor of mRNA vaccine technology, he has been reaching a growing number of people with a narrative that makes COVID-19 vaccination sound scary. We cannot embed clips from the Rogan interview, which lasted about three...
Source: The Health Care Blog - March 17, 2022 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: matthew holt Tags: COVID-19 Health Policy antivaxxer COVID-19 vaccine David Warmflash Joe Rogan Robert Malone Source Type: blogs
TWiV 846: Beta was stirring, and now in a mouse
TWiV explores the impact of the intestinal virome on seroconversion after rotavirus vaccination, and implications of the ability of the SARS-CoV-2 beta variant to infect wild-type laboratory mice. Click arrow to playDownload TWiV 846 (61 MB .mp3, 102 min)Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Show notes at microbe.tv/twiv (Source: virology blog)
Source: virology blog - December 28, 2021 Category: Virology Authors: Vincent Racaniello Tags: This Week in Virology beta variant of concern coronavirus COVID-19 host range mice microbiome pandemic rotavirus SARS-CoV-2 vaccine viral viruses Source Type: blogs
Zinc: Zapping Invaders
Although zinc may appear last on nutrition labels, it’s the second-most abundant trace element in our bodies, behind only iron. (Trace elements are molecules our bodies need in small amounts to stay healthy). Zinc is crucial for a well-functioning immune system, wound healing, physical growth, the senses of taste and smell, and the construction of proteins and DNA. It can also partner with oxygen to form zinc oxide, a compound that scatters ultraviolet light and can act as a protective barrier over inflamed skin. Many sunscreens, burn ointments, diaper creams, and other skin treatments contain zinc oxide.
Zinc m...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - February 24, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacology Cellular Processes Source Type: blogs
All you need to know about waterborne diseases
Waterborne diseases are contracted through exposure to contaminated water including drinking water, water used in food preparation, and swimming water.
They can be caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Below is a partial list of waterborne disease pathogens, their microbial classification, and their resulting illnesses.
Classification
Microorganism
Disease
Bacterium
Campylobacter spp.
Campylobacteriosis
Bacterium
Escherichia coli
E. Coli Diarrhea
Bacterium
Legionella pneumophila
Legionnaires’ Disease
Bacterium
Salmonella enterica
Salmonellosis
Bacterium
Salmonella typhi
Typhoid fever
...
Source: GIDEON blog - January 14, 2021 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Kristina Symes Tags: Microbiology News Tips Source Type: blogs
Disease names – what do they mean?
In the midst of the continuing pandemic, World Dictionary Day seems like the perfect occasion to consider the meaning and origin behind some of the most well-known disease names. We’ve been speaking with Dr. Steve Berger, our co-founder, to learn more.
CORONAVIRUSES
Let’s start with the obvious one. COVID 19, which began as a localized outbreak of “Novel Coronavirus” infection, is now a name almost every household in the world will know. COVID-19 comes from COrona VIrus Disease which first appeared in 2019, with the disease itself being caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
SARS was a prominent name back in the early 2...
Source: GIDEON blog - October 16, 2020 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Kristina Symes Tags: Epidemiology News Source Type: blogs
Vaccines for COVID-19 moving closer
As the world reels from illnesses and deaths due to COVID-19, the race is on for a safe, effective, long-lasting vaccine to help the body block the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The three vaccine approaches discussed here are among the first to be tested clinically in the United States.
How vaccines induce immunity: The starting line
In 1796, in a pastoral corner of England, and during a far more feudal and ethically less enlightened time, Edward Jenner, an English country surgeon, inoculated James Phipps, his gardener’s eight-year-old son, with cowpox pustules obtained from the arm of a milkmaid. It was widely believed ...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - July 21, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Shiv Pillai, PhD, MBBS Tags: Coronavirus and COVID-19 Health Infectious diseases Vaccines Source Type: blogs
TWiV 636: Georgia State viral
From Georgia State University, Vincent speaks with Chris, Andrew, Priya, and Richard about their careers and their work on Ebolaviruses, rotavirus, and antiviral drug development. Click arrow to playDownload TWiV 636 (68 MB .mp3, 113 min)Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Show notes at microbe.tv/twiv (Source: virology blog)
Source: virology blog - July 9, 2020 Category: Virology Authors: Vincent Racaniello Tags: This Week in Virology antiviral drug ebolavirus IFN immune modulation influenza virus innate immunity measles virus respiratory syncytial virus rotavirus viruses Source Type: blogs
Will This Novel Virus Revive Older Ones?
Jeffrey A. SingerAs I recently wrotehere, and spoke abouthere, bans on elective surgery invoked by governors across the country in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have caused many people to suffer and even possibly face fatal consequences due to delays in necessary medical care. But there are other reasons why the public health emergency has the potential to generate secondary public health crises.In some cases people are avoiding doctors ’ offices and emergency rooms because they worry about handling theexpense at a time they have seen their income, and perhaps their savings, vanish during the current econom...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - May 9, 2020 Category: American Health Authors: Jeffrey A. Singer Source Type: blogs
No Relationship Between Notifiable Diseases and Immigrant Populations
Alex Nowrasteh andAndrew C. ForresterThe international spread of the SARS ‐CoV‐2 virus that causes the disease COVID-19 has prompted many governments to close their borders. Immigration policy plays an important role in limiting the international spread of contagious diseases.Prior to the COVID-19 crisis,several commentators were concerned that immigrants – especially illegal immigrants – were spreading serious diseases in the United States. This blog post is the first in a series to answer the question of whether immigrants spread serious notifiable diseases other than COVID-19 in the United States. This ...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - April 13, 2020 Category: American Health Authors: Alex Nowrasteh, Andrew C. Forrester Source Type: blogs
Why follow a vaccine schedule?
Right now, many people are hoping for a vaccine to protect against the new coronavirus. While that’s still on the horizon, new research suggests that families who do vaccinate their children may not be following the recommended schedule.
Vaccines are given on a schedule for a reason: to protect children from vaccine-preventable disease. Experts designed the schedule so that children get protection when they need it — and the doses are timed so the vaccine itself can have the best effect. When parents don’t follow the schedule, their children may not be protected.
And yet, many parents do not follow the schedule.
A th...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - March 26, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Claire McCarthy, MD Tags: Adolescent health Children's Health Parenting Vaccines Source Type: blogs
Segmented filamentous bacteria block rotavirus infection
Viruses and bacteria are both present at mucosal surfaces and it is not surprising that they interact in many ways. Sometimes members of the gut microbiome help viruses to infect cells, exemplified by poliovirus, reovirus, and mouse mammary tumor virus. The opposite also happens: segmented filamentous bacteria can prevent and cure rotavirus infection. Mice that […] (Source: virology blog)
Source: virology blog - October 18, 2019 Category: Virology Authors: Vincent Racaniello Tags: Basic virology Information gastroenteritis microbiome polymicrobial infection rotavirus segmented filamentous bacteria viral viruses Source Type: blogs
