Biology/bacteria - pilus & plasmids
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Question
Hello, I was wondering if there would be a way to develop some sort of vaccine or treatment that would stay permanently in our bodies that would shrink or clog a bacteria pilus so plasmids could not be transferred? Then antibody resistance and disease evolution would cease? Thanks
Hi Bryan: Thanks for your question.
Alas, bacteria also transfer genetic material via transduction (transfer via bacteriophage) and transformation (taking up naked DNA).
Here are a few references:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformation_(genetics)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transduction_(genetics)
It might also be a problem getting your the antibodies generated by your vaccine into place to interfere with the sex pilus.
Keep thinking, though!
FM Rollwagen, PhD
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Answers by Expert:
Florence M Rollwagen
Expertise
I can answer questions in biology, microbiology and immunology on the undergraduate or graduate level. I can also address medical and health concerns regarding alternative medicine, autoimmune diseases (lupus, MS) liver disease and intestinal problems.
Experience
I have over 20 years experience in research and teaching at the medical/graduate level, and 5 years teaching college biology and microbiology. My expertise is in microbiology and immunology, specifically the biology of cytokines and soluble immune response modifiers. I also carried out original research in blood substitutes and shock/trauma.
Organizations
American Association of Immunologists (AAI)
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Publications
Journal of Experimental Medicine, Journal of Immunology, Cytokine, Shock, Experimental Hematology
Education/Credentials
BS biology 1966
MS biology 1968
PhD immunology 1979
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