TxAlien

There are several hundred different types of bacteria in the human body. Most of them are harmless, while some are even beneficial to humans. 

The number of bacteria in the human body is comparable to or even greater than the number of regular human cells [1].

By weight, bacteria comprise about 1-3% for a typical person. When a person acquires immunity, it is usually assumed that this is his or her own cells that have acquired the ability to fight the infection.  However, if the bacteria themselves also contribute to developing immunity, it would open up new ways to treat diseases including COVID-19.  It wouldn't matter if the bacteria are trying to save their habitat or are simply trying to defend themselves against a viral infection.

 

Instead of looking to induce the right response to the disease in the immune system, we can try to find ways to directly immunize the bacteria present in humans. 

We can either vaccinate the bacteria that is already present inside the human body or we can introduce immunized bacteria that are able to recognize and kill the virus right away.

 

This theory would also explain the disappearance of viral epidemics. Epidemics do not disappear because the virus mutates or becomes less aggressive,

but because non-infected people get immunity from bacteria that was acquired from people already protected from the disease.

 

 

Author: Alex P

 

References:

[1] Sender, R. Are We Really Vastly Outnumbered? Revisiting the Ratio of Bacterial to Host Cells in Humans . — Cell Press , 2016. — January (vol. 164, no. 3). — P. 337—340