Pathogen Time or, BOOM Headshot

I was going to write about cell organelles, but I DO WHAT I WANT, so it’s really Pathogen Time. Plus, this nicely mirrors Video Game You (see: https://dailyscienceblog.wordpress.com/tag/john-mayer/ ), “know thy enemy” and all that. The big bosses are bacteria, viruses, fungi and prions.

Fighting a bacterial infection is basically the same as fighting zombies. They eat everything you love  (brains/nutrients), they’re dumb and gross and there are a shit ton of them. Thankfully, a headshot (with bullets, machete or antibodies) usually does the trick. Also, for common infections, you just need time to cut through the teeming horde. Less common ones require multiplayer mode/drugs. Although out-competing you for resources is the bacteria’s main mode of attack, they may also release toxins or invade your cells. Bacteria can also form “plaques”, consisting of bacteria and nutrients they are growing on/around. These can do a LOT of damage if left unchecked; the plaque on your teeth needs to be brushed off/scraped off with that God awful metal hook by the dentist or the bacteria will destroy your teeth. Do not let them destroy your teeth. A win for bacteria is a win for zombies.

Viruses on the other hand, while not technically living, are much more sophisticated than the single-cellular zombies on your teeth. The reason why they’re not technically living is because they cannot self-maintain, reproduce or metabolize on their own. For that, they use YOU. Yup, viruses are mad spies that hijack your cells into aiding their heinous schemes. Those schemes being replication of viral DNA and synthesis of viral capsids (think capsule) for the TOTAL TAKEOVER OF YOUR BODY. Remember that chickenpox you had? It planted its DNA in your cells, waiting until you’re old to hit you with shingles. Or not, viruses get senile too. Lucky for us, cytotoxic T-Cells are always up for playing a round of spy vs. spy.

Despite what you may think, fungi are not such fungis (GET IT GET IT). Just ask my brother about the crap that grew in his lungs when he lived in a glorified closet for a year. But I will tell you more about that tomorrow.

OH THE SUSPENSE. OH THE ALLCAPS.

 

 

Source

-. 2010. GRE Subject Test: Biology 5th Ed. Kaplan, New York.

Wassenaar, T. M. 2009. “Pathogenic Bacteria: Bacterial Pathogenicity”. Virtual Museum of Bacteria. 12 Feb, 2013. <http://bacteriamuseum.org/cms/Pathogenic-Bacteria/bacterial-pathogenicity.html&gt;

Science in Action!

My arms are currently going through a bonus puzzle level in Video Game Me. Which is to say, I burned my arms at work and now I have a couple inflamed spots where Flamethrower Carl has gone to town and made my capillaries leaky. I focused on immune response to pathogens the other day, but white blood cells do react to tissue damage and the immune system will kick in even for a paper cut. It just doesn’t go full hog unless the cut gets infected. Because I have only light burns, there’s no open wound for pathogens to enter so Carl will just calm down when the damaged tissue is taken care of.

Calm down, Carl. Just calm down.