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Fighting infections

  • 06-07-2009 1:54pm
    #1
    helimachoptor
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 21,693 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    Something that has always puzzled me... why can your body fight some bacterial/viral infections and not others.

    Take Chlamydia for example, if untreated by anti-biotics you never get rid of it. Why after weeks/months is the body not able to get rid of this?


Comments

  • #2
    Kevster
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,980 ✭✭✭Kevster


    It's a combination of genetic factors, age, race, sex, and general state of health. When an infectious agent enters your body, your immune system will be activated and it'll check to see if it already has the 'cure' (antibody). If it does, then the infection will be controlled. However, if there is no antibody/cure, then the immune system will start synthesising new antibodies from your DNA/genes and - usually - one of these antibodies will attach nicely to the infectious agent and will provide the cure. In the future, if that same agent enters the body again, your immune system will remember it and will easily get rid of it.

    A problem - however - is that some diseases like the flu rapidly mutate. On the surface of a flu particle are protein molecules, which are the things that mutate. So, it's a constant game of cat and mouse between the rapidly mutating flu particle (or other disease particle) and your immune system.


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