The Viral Talk

Episode 12 - What are our innate defenses against viruses?

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What are the ways in which our bodies protect us from viral infections? Is it easy for a virus to establish an infection? This and much more in this episode of The Viral Talk.

 

Key takeaways:

  • There are very few ways in which a virus can manage to infect us, and all of them require to surpass the skin in some way, such as getting through cuts, through the mouth, the nose, the eyes or the reproductive organs;
  • There are multiple physical and chemical barriers that prevent viruses from infecting us all the time at each of the vulnerable sites;
  • These include pH, presence of mucus to trap invaders, various enzymes that degrade proteins and even our microbiota (aka the bacteria living in us);
  • The gut has also regions filled with immune cells that scan the environment and activate the immune response if they detect a viral infection going on;
  • In addition, most cells (not just immune cells) are capable of producing a set of molecules called Interferons;
  • Interferons are the master molecules that have evolved to specifically counter viral infections, and are produced when a cell recognises that it has been infected;
  • Interferons also act as signals that alert other, non-infected cells that there are invaders;
  • Interferons also activate the process of inflammation, which brings at the point of infection other immune cells, so that the adaptive immune response can start;


    • Articles for the most interested:

    Physical barriers to infection - https://teachmephysiology.com/immune-system/innate-immune-system/barriers-to-infection/

    Review on interferons - https://www.nature.com/articles/nri3787

    How does the immune system works? - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zyxg7p3/revision/2

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    The Viral TalkBy Federico De Angelis, Bobbie-Anne Turner