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RE: Introducing a new contest - Science Discussion Contest - April 22
Immunity I suppose--this from experience. The fact that it's true is why the human race is in so much trouble trying to fight bacteria.
No @quiplet. Immunity is the term we use to just describe about the our body's self fighting mechanism against the pathogens. It's not a trouble. It's a mechanism that has evolved over millions of years. Those unlucky humans or other organisms who were not having good immunity could not pass there Gene to their subsequent generations. So those who are surviving now are the offsprings of those who have good immunity. That's why we have good immunity. But the story is not over. Every humans are born with about 60 - 70 mutations. One or several of those may make them again vulnerable to certain disease. So they become the next unlucky individuals. Mutations are happening for pathogens also. Some of them, enabling to attack as more efficiently and some less efficiently. More efficient pathogens will increase over time. The story continues .......
I should have gone into more explanation. The immunity-- to which I implied was the bacterial immunity--allowing it to continue to thrive, just as our own human immunity does.
Long ago a family member was born premature and immediately put into infant ICU. That was a mistake because there was a deadly bacterial infection rampant in that ICU. The infected infants were doing well after anti-bacterial treatment. When our family baby was placed into ICU the bacteria had grown an immunity to the anti-bacterial treatment. It was a sad lesson learned because the infection, although not deadly to our little guy, left him with life-long difficulties. Fortunately, an immunologist was able to halt the disease for him in time. I apologize for not being more forthcoming with my answer.
Furthermore, the excessive use of anti-bacterial medicine gives strength to the bugs and in turn they become immune to even the strongest of medicines. It seems so strange talking about microbes like this but they are a lot of trouble.
Sorry to hear about what happened to your family member. So you know what is antibiotic resistance. That is what you explained as immunity acquired by bacteria against antibiotics. That's ok. Still my question is unanswered. This is not what I expected from this contest. It was not supposed to be just between you and me. I think i will not continue this contest. I guess no one is interested in science. Or at least it's not possible for a minnow like me to start contests like this. So I will be back with this kind of contests once i become a whale or dolphin. But now I will wait and see another 6 days.
I'm sorry. It's very difficult to get started. Post every day. I do not, but I try. I'd like to recommend you add a little bit of a profile so people know you are interested or are educated in science. I'm following to watch you grow :)