I meant to plug this last week: RPM at Evolgen has a post on microbial diversity in the gut, referencing a new Cell paper.
I was going to write up this paper on MRSA within amoebae, but haven't had time. I still might do a more extensive commentary, but Joseph has a few words on it.
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Why, I wonder is your oft repeated promise to Anon II not on the list?
It is clearly the most significant conversation you have ever begun since I have been closely following your blog. Many others would I am sure agree with me.
The entire fascinating conversation can be found at the url below, in a work that is fast becoming my most popular.
http://bialystocker.net/files/Pipedream.pdf
Wow thats scary ^^;;.
Is it possible to fight disease in the same way i wonder.
Harvey, as I have told you repeatedly, I've replied to Anon II via email and will discuss it on here at a later date.
Hi Lavis! Long time, no see. Can you elaborate--which way do you mean?
Hi Tara ^_^ How have you been?
Well i guess i was thinking that if you could hide something like a trojan horse to combat disease.
As i understand it already we already inject people with a bit of various afflictions in a flu shot, so that our bodies can better learn how to fight the various flu strains.
I read that HIV remains inside of cells so that the immune system passes over it.
I personally don't know if there is much of a need, or if its feasible. The article just kind of triggered thoughts about an article i read.
What i was trying to say is, is there such a thing as being able to hide a benign virus inside cells in that manner that would become active to the prescence of particular diseases?
I don't know if that would be particularly safe though.
Just a thought.
-Lavis
I don't know about that exact tactic, but there is some thought of infecting people with agents if they can be shown to reduce the severity of disease. For example, some AIDS patients co-infected with hepatitis G virus seem to progress more slowly than those without that second infection: see here for a summary. But, others have found conflicting results, and we don't really know how it happens. In addition, for the MRSA, growth in the amoebae seem to make them more virulent--not a good thing for us! The fields of polymicrobial diseases and microbial ecology are still relatively young--right now I think it's too early to contemplate something like you suggest, 'cause we just don't know enough. Maybe down the line though...