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Tip of the Day
Go grocery shopping locally to help reduce your carbon footprint
The invisible enemy
We disinfect everything all the time and not always wisely.
While many of us are naturally immune against these invisible enemies, aka bacteria, others are born with a deficient immune system that does not allow them to live outside of a sterile room. For them, the battle against germs is a daily struggle as they are unable to produce enough white blood cells. The only treatment available today is still bone marrow donation, but not everyone has the possibility of finding a compatible donor.
For this reason, at the Necker Hospital, researchers are trying new ways. One innovative treatment is gene therapy. This is based on a transfer of genes into patients’ cells in order to introduce a normal copy of the defective gene. Gene therapy promises to be effective, but has yet to demonstrate that it is totally harmless.
Faced with the effects of human and environmental disasters, nature is able to resume his duties. We know how she fights the effects of industrial pollution, oil and even nuclear pollution
-researcher at the University of Manchester
Our interest in bacteria and possible contamination – and thus the diseases that the contamination could bring about – is increasing every day. We are interested to know the ways of the transmission of bacteria and to see how we can be affected. Bacteria have become our invisible enemy. For example, a study by the University of Manchester has revealed that mobile phones contain five hundred more bacteria than a seat toilet seat.
Fear of falling ill has led to the development of a phobia of bacteria, in turn leading to the increased use of stronger detergents to clean our homes. Additionally, huge increases in the consumption of antibiotics have resulted in the development of evermore resistant bacteria.
Tags: bacteria, contamination, enemy, gene, immune, invisible, Pollution, Therapy
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