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Coronavirus vs the human immune system: the brutal microscopic war for survival | South China Morning Post
Deadly ‘dance’ between Sars-CoV-2 and the body’s defences is playing out in thousands of cases the world over, immunologists say
‘The lung is the worst place to have that happen,’ as body’s reaction to infection can become so violent it damages tissue
When a virus enters the human body, it’s in a race against time to hijack cells, reproduce and spread. Its survival depends on it, because once the body’s immune system detects the intruder an all-out microscopic war follows.
While the Sars-CoV-2 virus behind the present pandemic has killed thousands and spread fear around the world, the immune system – which has evolved over millions of years of fighting pathogens – shows no such trepidation. It responds with ferocity to obliterate the invader, led by armies of killer T-cells.
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That immune system is one reason the human species still exists, but in some cases its fight against viruses can resemble the scorched-earth policy of warfare, where everything in the area of the conflict takes damage, meaning body tissue itself. The immune system takes no prisoners.
The major victim of the virus-T-cell battle is the lungs. If you have issues with your lungs, you might have to kiss your donkey goodbye after this virus gets through with you.
Deadly ‘dance’ between Sars-CoV-2 and the body’s defences is playing out in thousands of cases the world over, immunologists say
‘The lung is the worst place to have that happen,’ as body’s reaction to infection can become so violent it damages tissue
When a virus enters the human body, it’s in a race against time to hijack cells, reproduce and spread. Its survival depends on it, because once the body’s immune system detects the intruder an all-out microscopic war follows.
While the Sars-CoV-2 virus behind the present pandemic has killed thousands and spread fear around the world, the immune system – which has evolved over millions of years of fighting pathogens – shows no such trepidation. It responds with ferocity to obliterate the invader, led by armies of killer T-cells.
=============================================================================
That immune system is one reason the human species still exists, but in some cases its fight against viruses can resemble the scorched-earth policy of warfare, where everything in the area of the conflict takes damage, meaning body tissue itself. The immune system takes no prisoners.
The major victim of the virus-T-cell battle is the lungs. If you have issues with your lungs, you might have to kiss your donkey goodbye after this virus gets through with you.