For decades we’ve had evidence that some vaccines appear to build defenses against nearly anything that comes our way. Could general immune boosters become part of our regular medical routines?
The first tuberculosis vaccine was developed in 1921, by two French scientists, Albert Calmette and Camille Guérin. It was called Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, or B.C.G., and has long been one of the world’s most widely administered shots. From the beginning, its power was surprising. B.C.G. contains a bacterium similar to the one that causes TB, and engenders an immune defense specific to that disease. But, as Calmette noted in a paper in 1931, those vaccinated with B.C.G.
Aaby published his initial findings in 1984, then followed up with a fuller report in 1995, describing similar results across ten studies in Bangladesh, Benin, Burundi, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Senegal, and Zaire . Since then, he and others have reported that B.C.G., O.P.V., and a measles vaccine called M.V. have significantly reduced mortality from non-targeted diseases in low-income countries.
Most vaccines target what’s called the adaptive immune system: they work by aiming antibodies and T cells at specific pathogens. But we also have an innate immune system, a more indiscriminate first line of defense, which includes our skin, mucous membranes, and generalist proteins throughout the body that inhibit viral replication. Scavenger cells in this system attack foreign intruders—even ones the body has never seen before—and killer cells destroy any infected cell.
In 2020, a multinational team led by Sandrine Sarrazin and Michael H. Sieweke, of the Centre d’Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, deepened the story, suggesting how the reprogramming might take place. If you were to stretch out all the DNA strands in your body and place them end to end, they would encircle Earth’s equator roughly two million times; they fit inside cellular nuclei by wrapping around proteins called histones, forming a tightly coiled complex called chromatin.
There is a problem, however, with all of these studies. They are “observational”—that is, based on after-the-fact data analysis. Observational studies are suggestive but not conclusive, because it’s impossible to completely rule out biassing variables, such as differences in who gets a vaccine. Researchers are now conducting placebo-controlled trials, in which they randomly administer vaccines to one group and placebos to another, then measure the outcomes.
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
Similar News:Vous pouvez également lire des articles d'actualité similaires à celui-ci que nous avons collectés auprès d'autres sources d'information.
Far-Right, Anti-Vax Factions in US and Beyond Rally Around Ottawa 'Siege'With the so-called 'Freedom Convoy' in its second week in Ottawa, similar protests are reportedly being planned in the U.S. and throughout Europe.
Lire la suite »
Silver Price Analysis: XAG/USD bulls looking to seize control, await a move beyond $23.00Silver Price Analysis: XAG/USD bulls looking to seize control, await a move beyond $23.00 By HareshMenghani Silver Commodities Technical Analysis XAGUSD
Lire la suite »
Spotify Has Plans To Move Beyond Music And Become The Instagram And TikTok Of AudioDaniel Ek convinced labels and artists to stream their songs on Spotify, reviving the flatlining music industry. Now, after amassing a $4.4 billion fortune, he’s opening his superstreamer to storytelling, live talk and a new breed of audio creators in a bid to own the world’s digital eardrums.
Lire la suite »
Spotify Has Plans To Move Beyond Music And Become The Instagram And TikTok Of AudioDaniel Ek convinced labels and artists to stream their songs on Spotify, reviving the flatlining music industry. Now, after amassing a $4.4 billion fortune, he’s opening his superstreamer to storytelling, live talk and a new breed of audio creators in a bid to own the world’s digital eardrums.
Lire la suite »
The Hidden Costs of Keeping Gas Plants Online in Texas & BeyondThe Hidden Costs of Keeping Gas Plants Online in Texas and Beyond, New gas-fired power plants can't compete with clean energy
Lire la suite »
25 Gifts for Your Valentine That Go Beyond a BouquetFrom fragrant rose harissa to a decadent chocolate cake decorated with buttercream rosettes, everything's coming up roses.
Lire la suite »