Bacteriophages in our Mucus Kill Invading Bacteria

[liveonearth]

Or in other words, they are a natural part of our immune defense! New science suggests that mucus in our body is full of viruses that attack bacteria! Those viruses don't hurt us, in fact, they protect us. Commensal viruses....

Comments

Philosophy.

[ford_prefect42]

And are bacterio-phages "alive"? Complex molecules that disrupt the replication of subsystems of viri, causing replication of the original molecule instead. Is that molecule a life? Scientifically, if it can be remotely considered alive, even by the most exotic definition, then how can any debate exist about whether or not a 2 month old fetus is "alive"? Hell, that's got a central nervous system!

Re: Philosophy.

[liveonearth]

Bacteriophages are viruses. Phages are viruses. It has long been debated whether viruses are "alive" because they do not have the machinery to survive or reproduce independently. However they do take over the command centers of our cells, and insert their genetic code into ours, and that of every other living thing. So no matter whether or not they are "alive"....they are a force to be contended with!

PS, where'd you get that "complex molecule" definition?

Re: Philosophy.

[ford_prefect42]

"complex molecule"

In the most literal of all possible ways, what else can a phage be defined as?

eta.

Given that viri, phages, bacteriophages, etcetera, have long been debated within the medical and scientific community as "possibly life", what room for debate remains about a fetus? Given that the only possible answer with any logical consistency is "none", how is anyone calling RTL people "ignorant" solely for that position? Where exactly does the pro choice position garner philosophical underpinnings?

Re: Philosophy.

[liveonearth]

I believe that they are made up of more than one molecule, and the molecules that comprise them have varying complexity. There is a capsule made of proteins, and a genome made of DNA and RNA in a range of sizes.

As for your more philosophical and political questions, sorry. Let me only say that I believe life to be a continuous process, and not something that "begins" at any one time in the womb. If you'd like to actually read my thinking about abortion, I have a tag for it and plenty out there that you can read and tear to shreds if you so desire.

[madman101]

i also saw that and may yet post - note that phage research has been big in russia but neglected here

of interest to me - pic of phases - cool shapes

Friendly Viruses Protect Us Against Bacteria
http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2013/05/friendly-viruses-protect-us-agai.html

[liveonearth]

Yep. The Soviets used 2 tons/day of phage in wartimes, and you know they don't waste money. Works great for wound care. There's a hospital in Georgia (former USSR republic) where phage therapy saves lives and limbs regularly.

[madman101]

Those Russians are so impressive... and yet strange.

There is some debate as to whether they are really alive.

;D

Goodnight. Thanks for the post.

[rick_day]

boogers for good health? Don't expectorate, swallow?

idk....

[liveonearth]

Ick! You gross me out too.

[newedition]

Very fascinating! Definitely incorporating this into the Microbiology class next fall. :-)
Also wondering if this could be the key to "auto-immunity"-- maybe our body is mis-recognizing the helpful virus as bad and attacking our own cells which contain the virus?

[liveonearth]

Wellllllll actually the triggers for AI dz are pretty well known and viruses are not at the top of our worries list. More commonly it occurs because of "leaky gut" which activates the immune system to recognize (and attack) epitopes which should be considered "food" or "self". Some people have HLA markers on their cells that are very much like food, esp gluten, and they are highly susceptible to a failure of immune tolerance.

The phages in our mucus are there because there is a constant stream of food for them. Phages tend to be very specific: one particular type of bacteriophage will infect one particular type of bacterium. Phage therapy involves finding the right one to attack the bacteria involved...and nature does this for us. The lovely thing is that when the bacterium isn't available, phage populations specific to it naturally reduce.

[newedition]

Hm, that's interesting! I knew leaky gut could lead to food sensitivity, particularly gluten and casein, but hadn't heard about the mimicry with components of our own system. It's a wonderfully interesting world!

[liveonearth]

HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 seem to be the two cell markers that tangle with gluten. The glutein protein getting to the immune system via failing tight junctions in the intestinal wall is what seems to trigger an assortment of AI disease.