3 ms·
Making antibodies is a hugely expensive process in the body. You'd only want to do it for mortal dangers like Smallpox. So I'm pretty sure our body decides if i
by rogerkirkness 6y ago
Making antibodies is a hugely expensive process in the body. You'd only want to do it for mortal dangers like Smallpox. So I'm pretty sure our body decides if it's worth it. The reason colds are endemic is that they aren't worth having a special forces team training to take them out of circulation at all times. You can just have the army look at it when there's an issue.
- ksml 6y agoDo you have a source for this? I don't know much about immunology, but I know a little bit, and I don't think it's that thoughtful of a process. We have antibodies for all sorts of diseases, certainly not just for things like smallpox. This article suggests colds are endemic because they mutate too quickly for antibodies to be effective: https://www.technologynetworks.com/immunology/news/why-dont-we-ever-develop-immunity-against-the-common-cold-294551 https://www.technologynetworks.com/immunology/news/why-dont-... but we still make antibodies for them.
- rogerkirkness 6y agoWe make antibodies, that's not the analogy I'm using, and I am studied in immunology. Some diseases are so harmful, our body keeps antibodies floating around perpetually in case we encounter it (e.g. smallpox). Coronaviruses are mild enough that we can "remember" it with t-cells and spin up antibodies as needed. Part of what bones do is this antibody production process, and it requires more energy than vital organs.