4 ms·
Antibodies do not target bacteria or viruses. They target protein that are present on bacteria or viruses. Protein are not alive, but they are a component of li
by epgui 3y ago
Antibodies do not target bacteria or viruses. They target protein that are present on bacteria or viruses. Protein are not alive, but they are a component of live organisms.
Protein present in peanut butter come from the plant that produces peanuts, which is just as alive (if not more) than microorganisms.
The only difference between the two are the time scales involved, and the natural selection forces in play... But that seems irrelevant here.
Your immune system has no notion of whether an antigen is alive or not. One way or another, it makes no difference. For the allergy example, there is nothing special there either. Your body is reacting to the allergen (a protein) in essentially the same way it would react to a helminth (or rather, to helminth protein). It doesn't know the difference.
- spondylosaurus 3y ago> Protein present in peanut butter come from the plant that produces peanuts, which is just as alive (if not more) than microorganisms. Right, but peanut butter itself is not alive. I never claimed that it's inorganic, only that a morsel of peanut butter is not a living creature, and specifically not a living creature that makes (most people) sick. > Your immune system has no notion of whether an antigen is alive or not. One way or another, it makes no difference. This is also what I was trying to convey, albeit in laymen's terms. As I understood it, the person I initially replied to wondered what would happen if your immune system reacted to a(n organic but) non-living substance. And the answer is that your immune system still reacts, but the reaction doesn't accomplish anything useful or necessary, and that's why no one likes having MS or a pet dander allergy. At least when your immune system reacts to a coronavirus, it's for a good reason—to clear out the virus.
- epgui 3y agoSounds like we're in agreement! I may have been picky about wording.
- samus 3y agoTo help clear up the disagreement: the difference I had in mind is that things like peanut butter and PEG cannot adapt to escape the immune response. Viruses and bacteria can. Antibodies against them can be detected after an infection, but they might not be effective at all.