Germ Warfare
The Human Immune System
Figure 1 Virus Anatomy (credit: Unite for Sight)
“The Human Immune System: The Key to Surviving a Hostile World”. Melaleuca – the Wellness Company recently mailed an “owner’s manual” by this name to its customers. The purpose of the manual was to educate us on the various types of germs that adversely affect humans, how our immune system fights these germs, and, of course, how their health products play a major role in supporting our immune system. This blog will contain several quotes from that manual.
2020 will certainly go down in history as ‘the year of the coronavirus’, specifically, the COVID-19 pandemic. Figure 1 is a familiar schematic of the anatomy of a typical coronavirus. FYI, viruses are not evil; they are an essential and good microorganism in God’s creation (see Appendix A). But when they and other microbes like bacteria, fungi, parasites, or toxins cause disease in humans, we then call them germs and pathogens (see Appendix B).
“If it weren’t for your immune system, the world around you would be a deadly place. In fact, you simply would not survive the untold number of viruses and bacteria that share your space. Lucky for you, you come equipped with a miraculously flexible and sophisticated natural defense system known as: your immune system. Simply put, your immune system is made up of a combination of several proteins, cells, and organs that all work together to protect you from illness and disease. It is perhaps the most advanced and intricate system in your entire body.
Your first line of defense is the innate immune system. It has two primary functions: provide an effective barrier between you and the outside world, and – when that doesn’t work – identify and kill invading pathogens.”
A prominent organ in this system is your skin, a physical, multi-layered barrier. Glands inside your skin are toxic to many invading pathogens; skin can also remove existing bacteria by shedding cells. Hair, eyelashes, sweat and tears, contain natural oils and liquids to repel and wash away invaders. Saliva, mucus, hair (cilia) in the nose and mouth contain compounds that are antibacterial and antiviral. Beyond this, the entire digestive tract is fully equipped to combat incoming germs.
Figure 2 White Blood Cells (credit Britannica)
“Even with such an elaborate defense system, there are times when invaders do get through. In these instances, the innate immune system deploys a series of cells to identify and kill the threat. Your primary weapons in this fight are your white blood cells, or leukocytes. While they account for about 1% of your blood, their impact is tremendous. They move throughout your body like miniature patrol cars. When they spot invaders, they multiply, signal other defensive cells to do the same, and then attack. There are five key types of white blood cells, and they have specific functions. (see Appendix C)”.
“While your innate immune system acts quickly to immediately neutralize threats, your adaptive, or acquired, immune system is more concerned with long-term immune health. Each pathogen that enters your body has a unique set of proteins on its surface known as an antigen. Your immune system cannot destroy a pathogen until that specific antigen is recognized. When a pathogen is detected, specialized white blood cells known as B lymphocytes, or B-cells, are dispatched. These B-cells create antibodies.
Figure 3 Antibodies in COVID-19 (credit codrap.umn.edu)
Antibodies – also known as immunoglobulins – are Y-shaped proteins that lock onto the specific shape of the antigen. Once the antibody is developed, T lymphocytes, or T-cells, can bind to and kill the pathogen as well as infected cells. Once an antibody has been developed, your body “remembers” it by holding on to a few specialized T-cells often called memory cells. Your body is capable of recognizing and remembering millions of different antigens and how to eradicate them. Vaccines are made of dead or weakened antigens. These antigens can’t cause an infection, but your body still recognizes them as invaders and produces the appropriate antibodies in response.”
This month (November 2020) one of the most important events in the twenty-first century took place – two pharmaceutical companies (Pfizer and Maderno) announced they had successfully developed an artificial vaccine to combat COVID-19 virus to help bring an end to the global pandemic. This is a scientific breakthrough, whereby mRNA (messenger RNA) is genetically engineered and specifically coded to recognize and destroy COVID-19 virus. Figure 3 is an amazing image of Y-shaped antibodies, created by the body from a vaccine, surrounding and poised to destroy the invading COVID virus.
There is so much more to this story to be told. For example, cells for both the innate and adaptive immune systems are created throughout your body by various organs and tissues, including thymus organ, lymphatic vessels, bone marrow, adenoids, tonsils, spleen, and lymph nodes. Then there is a whole narrative around the role of certain vitamins and minerals that support the immune system.
Did you know that even an unborn child is already equipped with a fully functioning immune system, prepared for the hostile world it is about to enter? It reminds me of how God equips us in this lifetime to enter our eternal heavenly home – he covers every detail. Psalm 139:14 says it best: “I praise you (God), for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well”.
Appendix A: Viruses and God’s Good Designs
Article by Hugh Ross – March 30, 2020 - Reasons To Believe
“Why would an all-powerful and all-loving God create a world in which viruses exist?” Why stop there? What about tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, volcanos, earthquakes, and tsunamis? The answer is, without these, human life on Earth would be impossible! Our Creator provides the world multiple benefits with these seemingly “evil” things; for a variety of reasons, sometimes humans become ‘collateral damage’.
Viruses do serve a purpose. Without viruses, bacteria would multiply and within a relatively short time period, occupy every niche and cranny on Earth’s surface; the planet would become a giant bacterial slime ball, consuming all the resources essential for higher life. Viruses break up bacteria at just the right rate and location to support advanced life.
Wind carries viruses and fragments of bacteria caused by viruses into the upper atmosphere. These then become “seeds” or nuclei around which ice crystals form; liquid water attaches to the ice crystals and the earth is watered by rain and snow. Without this process, there would be perpetual severe drought, making advanced life nearly impossible to form or sustain.
Via precipitation, the viruses, and bacterial fragments, which are carbonaceous (carbon) substances, are returned to the oceans, become food for ocean creatures, and eventually accumulate on ocean floors. “They then play a crucial role in Earth’s carbon cycle. Thanks to viruses we have the carbon cycle running at the rate we need and the amounts of atmospheric greenhouse gases that are optimal for our existence and our civilization.”
Appendix B: Know Your Invaders
BACTERIA are microscopic, single-celled organisms that can live almost anywhere; responsible for diseases such as pneumonia, staph infections, and strep throat.
VIRUSES are non-living strands of DNA or RNA that multiply in a living host; examples include the common cold, chickenpox, influenza, herpes, and SARS-COVID-19.
FUNGI: are a class of organism that includes molds and yeasts; they are responsible for athlete’s foot, jock itch, ringworm, and yeast infections.
PARASITES: are multiple-celled organisms that require a host to survive; they are usually contracted through food (tapeworms), water (giardia), or animals and insects (malaria).
TOXINS: are the harmful chemicals created by living cells such as bacteria; toxins are responsible for botulism, diphtheria, and tetanus.
Appendix C: White Blood Cells
NEUTROPHILS: The most numerous types of white blood cell. They are critical because they can freely move from your veins into your tissues to immediately attack antigens.
PHAGOCYTES: Surround and absorb pathogens, essentially “eating” them.
LYMPHOCYTES: Create antibodies to fight against bacteria, viruses, and other harmful invaders. They also help the body remember previous invaders, so they are easier to fight in the future.
BASOPHILS: Release histamine when your body is exposed to an allergen.
EOSINOPHILS: Participate in allergic reactions as well as help modulate inflammatory response.
