What are the profound effects?
What are Th1 and Th2 responses?
What are cytokines?
What are immune cell compositions?
Overall is this a good effect or a bad effect?
What are the profound effects?
What are Th1 and Th2 responses?
What are cytokines?
What are immune cell compositions?
Overall is this a good effect or a bad effect?
"Mosquito saliva proteins have numerous effects on the immune system, and we describe here the use of mice with a humanized immune system to study the effects of mosquito bites on human cells. Our results show that the number of immune cell types affected is much larger than previously described, and some immune responses to mosquito bites can be detected up until 7 days post-bite. The biological significance of these changes remains to be determined, but it might explain how some pathogens, such as viruses, can spread through the body in these cells, replicate to higher extents, and even remain in some tissues for far longer than detected in blood."
They're using stem cells to provide mice with "humanized" immune systems. The mosquito saliva is interacting with more types of immune cells than previously thought and remain active for longer than thought. The effects of these interactions is still unknown, but may be part of how bacteria, viruses, etc. carried by mosquitoes infect humans.
T Cells start as B Cells and then graduate from Thymus school after rigorous coursework (mainly don’t target and attack self). Most T helper cells stay as Th0 or undifferentiated. Th1 are specialized for inter cellular pathogens (bacteria and virus), Th2 broadly speaking are specialized for intra cellular pathogens (helminths and parasites).
Pathogens that have been around for a while like bacteria, virus, helminths, and parasites have evolved to push back against immune systems to varying degrees.
Source “The Body” by Bill Bryson
"If there's one thing the history of evolution has taught us, it's that life will not be contained... life will find a way". On the other hand, human progress moves way faster than evolution [eat that Darwin!]. That's amazing, but at the same time absolutely horrifying.