Natures wonders: how viruses enter and win (Introduction)

by David Turell , Tuesday, September 27, 2016, 22:20 (2977 days ago) @ David Turell

This study shows how viruses enter the body and defeat immunity in the lymph nodes prior to vaccination:-http://medicalxpress.com/news/2016-09-scientists-insect-borne-viruses-suppress-immune.html-" [R]esearch led by the University of Glasgow has discovered how arboviruses are able to suppress the immune system responses in the initial stages of infection.-***-"The team used the Bluetongue Virus (BTV) - a disease which, though not a threat to humans can be devastating in sheep and other ruminants - to reveal how an arbovirus first interacts with its host after initial infection. The research found that BTV subverted the host's immune system by inducing a temporary immunosuppression (suppression of the immune system's natural response) resulting in a delayed antibody production.-"The study reveals that BTV enters the animal's system through the skin via a midge bite, and then travels to the lymph nodes where it begins to suppress the natural immune system response. Researchers found that the virus disrupts key cells, known as follicular dendritic cells, that play a vital role in triggering the immune response of the host.
 
"'Data from the study also indicated that the severity of the virus's suppression of the immune system was correlated with the clinical outcome from infection.-***-"'These viruses cause acute infection and, therefore, improving our understanding about what happens during the very early stages of disease is vital. The characterization of the complex interactions between virus and host are critical for better understanding the development of arbovirus infections."-"Bluetongue, which particularly affects sheep and cattle, causes symptoms such as fever, weight loss and haemorragic lesions in various organs including the tongue, which can turn blue. The subsequent reduction in milk and meat production in the infected animals can be devastating to farmers.-"Earlier this year, the UK Government issued a warning to UK farmers about the high possibility of BTV spreading to the UK from France. Experts have predicted that infected midges being blown across the channel, combined with increasing summer temperatures, could provide the ideal conditions for another outbreak of the disease here in the UK - with the South of England at particular risk. As a result, Defra announced in June that stocks of a vaccine would be made available in limited supply to UK farmers."-Comment: How did this develop through evolution? First, the targeted animals had to evolve. Then the virus attacked, but also first had to evolve at some point in time. Just how did the virus learn, after entering the skin, to find lymph nodes by traveling the blood vessels, and then suppress the immunity by invading the specific immunity cells to stop them. Again smells of saltation. Did God do this? dhw's take will be the viruses did it themselves.