What do we know about ? A prosperous and developing for billions of years these tiny organisms are able to infect animals, plants and even bacteria. known for their aggressive and infectious nature. Most of them cause various diseases, from mild cold to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) — better known as SARS.
To survive, the virus needed a host, a living organism, capable of giving the virus is necessary to continue existence. When the virus enters the host cell, it hijacks its cellular mechanisms, releasing new viral particles. These particles subsequently infect more and more cells and as a result cause disease.
But not all . Some are able to actually kill bacteria, while others struggle with more dangerous viruses. And in the human body, as we know, living protective bacteria probiotics.
Bacteriophages (or "phages") are viruses that infect and destroy certain bacteria. They are found in the mucosa of the digestive, respiratory and reproductive tracts.
The Mucus is thick, jelly material. The main task of mucus is to make sure that harmful bacteria does not enter and protect cells from infection. According to recent studies, present in the mucus phages are a natural part of the human immune system. They protect the body from invading bacteria.
Today, scientists have learned to genetically-modified phages. Individual strains of phages tested against harmful bacteria. Thanks to genetically modified phages in the future there will be drugs for the treatment of various bacterial diseases. They can be safely administered orally or applied directly to wounds.
Even it happens:
Note that clinical trials of intravenous administration of phages continued. By the way, recently this topic was hot discussed .
Some viruses that we face, protects us from infection by dangerous pathogens. For example, the latent (hidden) herpes viruses can help natural (special type of white blood cells) to locate cancer cells and cells infected by other pathogens.
There is another interesting example — it is known that noroviruses (e.g., stomach flu) protects the intestine of mice, when those given antibiotics. Protective intestinal bacteria killed by the antibiotics made the mice susceptible to intestinal infections. But in the absence of good bacteria, these noroviruses have been able to protect their owners.
Thanks to technology, we were able to better understand how the complex world of microbes. Scientists have found that in addition to the beneficial bacteria in the gut, skin and even blood are useful viruses. In addition, there is a possibility that in the future, these modified versions of a virus will be effective in combating cancer cells.
Despite the fact that microbes are part of the human body, our understanding of these amazing components of incredibly small. In contrast to the capacity to understand viral infections and methods of combating them — it is huge: the study of viruses is able to shed light on the evolution of the human genome, genetic diseases and development of gene therapy.
Recommended
The coronavirus has mutated into 30 new strains
While coronavirus Apocalypse slowly but inevitably becomes routine, the virus SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve. And, unfortunately, he was good at it. Writes , with reference to the South China Morning Post reports that new studies show that the virus ...
In the United States recognized that the ventilator dies 88% of patients with coronavirus
When the world is raging coronavirus that causes pneumonia and kills people, the only solution is intensive care. If this is not done, the victims will be very much. Today for severe patients there is only one solution — connected to the appara...
Can a transfusion of blood plasma to cure the coronavirus?
Typically, vaccination involves the introduction into the organism of the weakened or killed microorganisms (viruses) designed to create a strong immunity to possible future infectious diseases — that is, for selection of antibodies. But what i...
Related News
The world population is rapidly aging. What does it mean?
Today in the world of people older than 65 years more than ever in human history. Life expectancy has increased markedly, and have children in many countries of the world have become rarer. According we first see a situation where...
Scientists have created a "patch" for the intestines
Cuts, tears, abrasion and other damage to the outer skin is pretty easy to fix. If the damage is serious — should be stitches. In most cases, you can restrict. But with the internal organs, this approach does not work. Altho...
Heart-on-a-chip have been taught to shrink. What is it and why is it important?
Agree, it would be strange if all of their developing pharmaceutical company and a group of scientists immediately tested on humans. In this case, the number of deaths would be simply prohibitive. Precisely in order to prevent thi...
What is better — tea or coffee? 6 facts about tea, which you did not know
Surely you've heard that tea — an incredibly healthy drink. However, most likely, you know the opposite point of view. The results of scientific researches show that regular consumption of tea reduces the risk of diabetes and Alzh...
What is the difference between green olives and black olives? And what good are they
the Oval fruit of the olive tree grow on the medium height trees. Its origin is a plant takes from the Mediterranean, for centuries they were the main diet of the peoples of the Mediterranean coast. Olive trees grow slowly, their ...
American lost his arms and legs after she licked the dog
many of us Have , which we love and consider valuable members of the family. However, not many people know that our Pets can be carriers of deadly infectious diseases. They say that learning from others ' mistakes. Read about how ...
A new species of cells that could save thousands of lives. And it's not stem cells
it would Seem that after so many years of thorough study of human anatomy and physiology, in our bodies should not remain anything that would not fall on the eyes of scientists-physicians. However, researchers are constantly . For...
How dangerous it is to give children antibiotics?
Children who were treated with antibiotics in early childhood, gaining weight significantly faster than their peers who were not taking these drugs. A new study has shown that the use of antibiotics can have a permanent effect on ...
The Japanese received permission to cross the human embryo and animal
Scientists have been breeding various hybrid species. As a rule, this applies to laboratory animals, experiments which is required to receive types with new properties, to test different drugs and so on. The hybridization occurs, ...
How dumb can people regain the gift of speech?
According to the world health organization, currently there are about 466 million , not able to speak. Usually, their mutism is associated with congenital deafness — hearing the speech of adults, deaf children simply can not learn...
Bionic eyes gave people the opportunity to read
today, there are already that can help people that have lost a particular sense organ. The simplest example — these are different types of hearing AIDS that allow people once again to hear sounds and speech. However, with th...
As a new microbots will help in the treatment of cancer
In our portal we have and tiny robots that can act like "the doctors inside," patrolling our body, seeking out and destroying everything that may harm us. While an extremely promising area of application of such microbots — ...
This gel is composed entirely of viruses and can destroy bacteria and plastic
in the mid-twentieth century antibiotics designed to kill bacteria, was considered to be substances that can cure people almost from all diseases. However, the scientists were wrong — over time these miraculous substances become l...
New patch ensures quick healing of wounds
What do you do when accidentally cut with a knife? Most likely, you will pull on the wound a band-aid that protects it from dirt and bacteria and also tightens the wound speeds up its healing. In addition to the usual patches that...
A tattoo can tell you about your health
Thousands of years ago tattoos were used by people to underline their social status and protection from evil spirits. Now everyone puts their own meaning in the drawings on his body, reflecting his worldview, traits of his own cha...
What will make the artificial intelligence that defeated the people in poker
a few days ago about the first artificial intelligence, which won just five professional poker players. Despite the statement that the AI will be used for completely other purposes and a card game was just a test, details about wh...
In the United States killed millions of bats. What kills them?
for 12 years in the caves of the Eastern part lie the mountains of dead bodies of tiny bats. They all die because of the so-called white nose syndrome caused by fungus, leading to the destruction of the wings, fat loss and, ultima...
While you are afraid of virtual reality, it cures fear of heights, snakes and spiders
Saw in your apartment creeping on the wall of the spider, and begin themselves in a panic to climb on the opposite wall – you have arachnophobia, fear of spiders. Can't sleep without the light? You niktofobiya – fear of darkness. ...
After 10 years the doctors will not be needed: the view of the legends of Silicon valley
Known for his thoughts on the potential impact of artificial intelligence on the healthcare industry, the legendary Silicon valley investor and Sun Microsystems founder Vinod Khosla recently said that "any radiologist who plans to...
Scientists: Frequent use of smartphones leads to the growth of the horns. Literally
Mobile technology has revolutionized our lifestyle – how we read, work, communicate, make purchases and meet. But it has long been known thing. However, there is something else that many of us may not yet realize – these tiny mach...
Comments (0)
This article has no comment, be the first!