Microbiology and Immunology

Hi, I'm new here. I have a question and only basic background in science, so forgive me if this seems rather elementary, but I have not been able to find the answer through other means, so here I am... Hope I am not making a repeat thread - if this is the case I would appreciate someone sending me the link to the previous discussion. So this is my question - Is there a difference in the human body's immune response when encountering an antigen that is injected intramuscularly versus an antigen that it encounters through normal means, as through the mucus membranes? If yes, what is the difference? How does this effect short and long term immunity to that particular an…

2010 International Symposium on Immune Diseases Time: May 15-17, 2010 Venue: Dalian Municipal Party Committee Hotel, Dalian, China Website: http://www.immunodiseases.com Dear Colleagues, Based upon your great contributions to the study and research on immunology, you are expected to take part in the 2010 International Symposium on Immune Disease (ISID-2010) which will be held from May 15th to May 17th in Dalian, China. Organized by the professional organization -- China Liaoning Society for Immunology and Institute of Immunology, China Medicinal University, ISID-2010 is designed to provide a small and cross disciplinary carefully selected current to…

Hi, How can an unvaccinated person get a vaccinated person sick? I have heard alot about this lately that unvaccinated people ( not sure if its just children?) have the potentail to spred disease that otherwise would not pop up. For example, how could an unvaccinated child give vaccinated children measels? Not sure if this is a good example, but still am confused on how an unvaccinated person could get a vaccinated person sick. Thanks for the help.

Hi, can anyone help me to answer my two questions concerning vaccines? I can´t find any useful scientific review or article where I can find the answer: 1. If you were a scientist and you had to find a vaccine against a particular pathogen: which way of delivery would you choose? I.v., i.m., subcutaneouly, or oral application... does anyone have an overview? And the precise mechanisms behind each particular application?? 2. It seems to be sometimes absolutely essential to use an adjuvant (like alum) to "stimulate" the innate immune system (the toll-like-receptor pathway for example) - BUT: there are also vaccines without any adjuvants; they seem to stimulate the innate …

Hie guys, Currently I'm very intrested in protein folding simulations influenced by my computational chemistry lecture. We learned using Discovey Studio to predict the protein domains and folding. The software is too much expensive that only 10 PCs in my university installed with that software (obviously I can't afford to buy). In the internet there are many project and sotfware used for folding and docking simulations, I just don't know which one is user friendly and easy to access. I have try studied Folding@Home however my computer can't even download the program. Therefore I really hope somebody in here can show me the right path of protein folding simulation... …

I have immunized myself with snake venom that acts as a powerful acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. That is how some venoms work to immobilize prey. Since I am resistant to this biological function, could my “immunity” be beneficial to persons who are afflicted with neurological disorders that begin or also express themselves as the inability to correctly resist acetylcholinesterase inhibitors? Since some of these diseases or immune system defects mimic a very long drawn out snake bite, (same thing is happening within moments or hours in certain envenomations) I am interested in making a connection with any researchers that might be interested in a hyperimmune person, and if…

First of all, I am completely new here, so hello! I have been scouring the internet trying to find out more about the relationship (if there is one) between latent Tb and swine/H1N1 flu with very little luck. The WHO has casually mentioned a possible link between active Tb and increased hospitalization/mortality in H1N1 patients. It seems like the WHO and CDC are keeping the information on what the "underlying conditions" are in people succumbing to the virus. On to my question - let's assume that a healthy person is recently diagnosed with latent Tb. Their x-rays are clear and they are in good health otherwise. This person has been given the option to begin tr…

It seems that a high number of children have been reporting side effects after taking Tamiflu. Apparently, these include nausea, insomnia and nightmares - pretty frightening if you are a child! Should these antivirals be modified and more extensively tested, and is there a need for Government to legislate for more thorough clinical testing before letting them loose on children? Your comments please. http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20090731/tuk-swine-flu-drug-has-side-effects-6323e80.html

Hi: Would it be practical to gene-modify a virus to infect the cells of the visceral adipose tissue as a cure for obesity? Thanks, Green Xenon

Hi: In my previous post http://www.scienceforums.net/forum/showthread.php?t=42585 , I was talking about using a virus to infect and kill of all the cells that make up the visceral adipose tissue. I then realized that it would spread to those who don't want or need it. So I am now thinking about a better approach that will only affect those who want to be affected. It involves turning the body's immune system against the visceral adipose tissue without harming the rest of the body [including the subcutaneous adipose tissue]. Are there any experiments being done on this? Is this a dangerously-high chance that turning the immune system against visceral adipocytes…

Could someone give me a link to a chart for confirmatory tests for bacteria. I found one that I couldn't understand. Thanks for your help.

Hi scienceforums, as a biology noob I wonder if anyone can explain, With of about 10,000 confirmed cases of swine flu worldwide and about 100 deaths it has about a 1% mortality rate. As I understand it much of the concern is that it could mutate into an easier spreading or even more potent strain. So, if I had no access to antiviral drugs or immunisation would taking my chances and catching the current form of the virus, allowing my body to recognise it, form antibodies and (hopefully ) overcome it, confer on me any resistance to a possible more potent future strain, assuming the new strain is not too different from the current ones? When confronted by…

As the molecular weight of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) only around 200 Da, how come the band of cAMP of western blot is around 17KDa? and considering the small molercular weight , it is rather difficult to run the cAMP molercuular on the WB gel, how can I do that? Thank you and headacher waiting your reply

I always assumed puss was white blood cells until someone told me it wasn't. She told me she'd seen white blood cells and it look like a clear yellow liquid (like urine). I still wagered that puss could be white blood cells because the urine looking solution she saw may have been very diluted with water, making it translucide, and that perhaps puss is white blood cells that have captured bacteria or viruses rendering them more opaque (like clear garbage bags that have been filled and are been purged). So what is puss?

Just have a question regarding this disesase. My ex told me she was just tested positive for it. From what Ive read, HPV encompases a spectrum of about 100 different viruses some of which cause genital warts and some that do not. She was found to have the strain that does not cause genital warts (luckily) and having been with her Im worried that I may have it as well! This strain is asymptomatic in men from what I have read, but asside from being able to transmit the virus, are there any other negative consequences to being infected by this virus for a man from a health perspective?? Even the most insignificant of adverse effects are of interest to me. thanks

Hi: I've heard that mast cells are a major factor in allergens causing allergies. Does this mean that I will be allergy-free if I remove all the mast cells from my body -- and prevent new mast cells from forming? If it were possible to do this, what would be the disadvantages? Thanks, Green Xenon

Hi, I found this great activity online to earn Rheumatology CME credit. http://www.cmenetworks.com/cme/10845/1/Continuing-Medical-Education-Rheumatology-CME-2009-Latest-Developments-in-Biologics-for-Rheumatoid-Arthritis-From-Science-to-Practice-Scientific-Congress-Update-December-19-2008---December-18-2009/Page1.html This one hour highlight review is provided by Scientific Congress Updates. The video covers some interesting topics like the latest clinical advances in use of biologics in the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Make sure you watch the whole video so you won’t miss it and the CME credit! John

Does anyone know exactly what a phlebotomist job is? What do they do and how much is their pay? Any information would help! Thank you!

Hi, I was wondering where the vaccines go once they actually get under the skin and into muscle tissue? Is it possible for vaccines to go into the spinal cord and into the CNS, and what effect would this have on a person? Thanks

Are E.coli on petrifilm blue with gas?? If so what are the blue ones without gas??

I have a few questions about a hypothetical situation I came up with. So if anyone can help answer any of theses questions or put there 2 cents in that would be great. I don’t know enough about all the fields of science that I will be going through so if I am way off about anything please correct me. OK, here is the hypothetical situation; science has finally gotten us to the point where we can colonize other planets and moons. A human is born in a laboratory through test tube processes and the fertilized egg was grown in an artificial whom. The child grows up in a completely sterilized environment and only eats sterilized food and water that is cultivated on that pla…

Can a hapten decomposed to semihapten and carrier?

nucleated cells tend to be more resistant to complement-mediated lysis than red blood cells?

Plese, I would like somebody who knows from immunology to answer for me the following questions with a T or F...Thank u. 1)Nucleated cells tend to be more resistant to complement-mediated lysis than red blood cells.(T) (F) 2)Enveloped viruses cannot be lysed by complement because their outer envelope is resistant to pore formation by the membrane attack complex.(T) (F) 3)C4-deficient individuals have difficulty eliminating immune complexes. (T) (F)

Hi: Please don’t get upset at me. I posted something similar in the past. I apologize profusely if anyone is annoyed by what might seem like a repetition of that post. However, if you read carefully, you’ll clearly notice some significant differences. The following is a speculative experiment with milk. It contains sci-fi elements that are not possible in physical reality. Still fun to think about though. A sample of fresh, raw, microbe-free, annatto-free, preservative-free, carrageen-free, carrageenan-free, polysorbate-free, purely-natural, completely-organic milk of healthy happy Jersey cows [who graze solely on natural organic pesticide-free pasture] is tel…