The immune system helps the body protect itself from harmful and invading bacteria and viruses. Although the white bloods cells are mostly used to get rid of these harmful microbes, they aren’t the only helpful mechanisms in our bodies. The immune system also specifically recruits antibodies that help identify and neutralize foreign organisms. Antibodies are largely Y-shaped proteins, but “each antibody has a unique target known as the antigen present” (Mandal, 2011). Each tip of the Y of an antibody contains a paratope—the part of an antibody which recognizes an antigen—and the part of an antigen that the antibody’s paratope attaches itself to is called the epitope. Since both the antibody and the antigen (either a bacteria or viruses) have a similar tip structure, the antibody can easily attaches itself to the antigen, thus the antibody recognizing the invading organism. Using this binding mechanism, the antibodies tag the bacteria and/or virus, signaling the immune system that it should do something about the invading microbe. The antibodies can either directly prevent the attachment of an antigen to a cell in our body, by blocking the antigen’s epitope, or it can also warn the immune system that a bacteria or virus is present in the body, so the immune system can perform other actions towards the invading microbe (for example, the antigens can ask the immune system for some white blood cells in order to get rid of a bacteria/virus). In the Hot Zone book, in order to detect any sort of virus in the area, “at the present time, [they had to] place a sentinel animal at the suspected location of the virus and hope the animal gets sick.
Mandal, A. (2011, January 18). What is an Antibody? Retrieved April 18, 2015, from http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-an-Antibody.aspx
In order for a doctor to diagnose a patient with Ebola, a doctor will have to know if the patient has been in one of the countries in West Africa (specifically, Guinea, Sierra Leone or Liberia) experiencing the current Ebola outbreak within the last 21 days, or whether the patient has been around someone who already has the virus. These 21 days is the period that the virus is in the incubation stage. Doctors then check for Ebola symptoms which are “fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal (stomach pain, and unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising)” (“Signs and Symptoms”). However, these symptoms could also be caused by a common flu, so blood tests are performed in order to identify the Ebola virus, including “enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (and/or) reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR)” (“Ebola virus and Marburg virus”). The ELISA is a test that uses “enzyme-labeled antigens and antibodies to detect the biological molecules, the most commonly used enzymes being alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) and glucose oxidase (E.C. 1.1.3.4)” (Gan and Patel, 2013). This mechanism allows the color of the patient’s blood sample to change, thus identify the specific substance that the Ebola virus contains. The reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction “involves heating up the DNA within the blood to separate its double strands, and then using primer strands (the starting point of DNA synthesis) to attempt to replicate a DNA sequence believed to be Ebola. A probe—a fluorescently labeled piece of DNA—is also used to attempt to replicate Ebola's signature sequence” (Rubenfire, 2014). If the DNA replicates, then a pathologist can confirm that the virus is present in the patient’s DNA sequence. Right now, recovery from Ebola depends on a strict care on a patient (isolation from the rest of the world) and the patient’s immune response; there is no vaccine or definite treatment for it. However if any complication or any new symptom of Ebola arises, the patient is immediately treated.
Ebola virus and Marburg virus. (2014, August 6). Retrieved April 19, 2015, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ebola-virus/basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20031241
Gan, S., & Patel, K. (2013, January 1). Enzyme Immunoassay and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Retrieved April 19, 2015, from http://www.nature.com/jid/journal/v133/n9/full/jid2013287a.html
Rubenfire, A. (2014, October 10). How labs test for Ebola. Retrieved April 19, 2015, from http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20141010/NEWS/310109962
Signs and Symptoms. (2014, November 2). Retrieved April 19, 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/symptoms/
The immune system helps the body protect itself from harmful and invading bacteria and viruses. Although the white bloods cells are mostly used to get rid of these harmful microbes, they aren’t the only helpful mechanisms in our bodies. The immune system also specifically recruits antibodies that help identify and neutralize foreign organisms. Antibodies are largely Y-shaped proteins, but “each antibody has a unique target known as the antigen present” (Mandal, 2011). Each tip of the Y of an antibody contains a paratope—the part of an antibody which recognizes an antigen—and the part of an antigen that the antibody’s paratope attaches itself to is called the epitope. Since both the antibody and the antigen (either a bacteria or viruses) have a similar tip structure, the antibody can easily attaches itself to the antigen, thus the antibody recognizing the invading organism. Using this binding mechanism, the antibodies tag the bacteria and/or virus, signaling the immune system that it should do something about the invading microbe. The antibodies can either directly prevent the attachment of an antigen to a cell in our body, by blocking the antigen’s epitope, or it can also warn the immune system that a bacteria or virus is present in the body, so the immune system can perform other actions towards the invading microbe (for example, the antigens can ask the immune system for some white blood cells in order to get rid of a bacteria/virus). In the Hot Zone book, in order to detect any sort of virus in the area, “at the present time, [they had to] place a sentinel animal at the suspected location of the virus and hope the animal gets sick.
ReplyDeleteMandal, A. (2011, January 18). What is an Antibody? Retrieved April 18, 2015, from http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-an-Antibody.aspx
Hi Karen, how do they currently check if an individual has the Ebola virus? What have they been doing in this last outbreak in West Africa?
ReplyDeleteIn order for a doctor to diagnose a patient with Ebola, a doctor will have to know if the patient has been in one of the countries in West Africa (specifically, Guinea, Sierra Leone or Liberia) experiencing the current Ebola outbreak within the last 21 days, or whether the patient has been around someone who already has the virus. These 21 days is the period that the virus is in the incubation stage. Doctors then check for Ebola symptoms which are “fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal (stomach pain, and unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising)” (“Signs and Symptoms”). However, these symptoms could also be caused by a common flu, so blood tests are performed in order to identify the Ebola virus, including “enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (and/or) reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR)” (“Ebola virus and Marburg virus”). The ELISA is a test that uses “enzyme-labeled antigens and antibodies to detect the biological molecules, the most commonly used enzymes being alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) and glucose oxidase (E.C. 1.1.3.4)” (Gan and Patel, 2013). This mechanism allows the color of the patient’s blood sample to change, thus identify the specific substance that the Ebola virus contains. The reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction “involves heating up the DNA within the blood to separate its double strands, and then using primer strands (the starting point of DNA synthesis) to attempt to replicate a DNA sequence believed to be Ebola. A probe—a fluorescently labeled piece of DNA—is also used to attempt to replicate Ebola's signature sequence” (Rubenfire, 2014). If the DNA replicates, then a pathologist can confirm that the virus is present in the patient’s DNA sequence. Right now, recovery from Ebola depends on a strict care on a patient (isolation from the rest of the world) and the patient’s immune response; there is no vaccine or definite treatment for it. However if any complication or any new symptom of Ebola arises, the patient is immediately treated.
DeleteEbola virus and Marburg virus. (2014, August 6). Retrieved April 19, 2015, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ebola-virus/basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20031241
Gan, S., & Patel, K. (2013, January 1). Enzyme Immunoassay and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Retrieved April 19, 2015, from http://www.nature.com/jid/journal/v133/n9/full/jid2013287a.html
Rubenfire, A. (2014, October 10). How labs test for Ebola. Retrieved April 19, 2015, from http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20141010/NEWS/310109962
Signs and Symptoms. (2014, November 2). Retrieved April 19, 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/symptoms/
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