Corona thread. No politics please

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I just luv stories like these:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...dno-wales-uk-coronavirus-lockdown/5094652002/

Goats :cool: are :cool: GOAT :cool:

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Real and serious question:

Is it possible that some among us humans are immune to all kinda viral diseases and the sorta respiratory plagues which can be deadly to many others? I’m asking because a while ago I watched a program (PBS?) where some scientists pursued the descendants of the terrible Black Plague survivors in England. These scientists were interested in linking some form of genetic mutations in people who were immune to the HIV virus to the very same people who were also immune to BP, IIRC.
 
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Casinostocks said:
Real and serious question:

Is it possible that some among us humans are immune to all kinda viral diseases and the sorta respiratory plagues which can be deadly to many others? I’m asking because a while ago I watched a program (PBS?) where some scientists pursued the defendants of the terrible Black Plague survivors in England. These scientists were interested in linking some form of genetic mutations in people who were immune to the HIV virus to the very same people who were also immune to BP, IIRC.
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Immune to all? No.

But can some inherited immunity provide protection against certain pathogens? Absolutely.

- Yes, there are some descendants who are much more resistant to Yersinia Pestis (which is a bacteria), due to long ancestral exposure to it in parts of Europe. Those descendants also appear to be much more resistant to HIV (which is of course, a virus).

- Folks with the gene for sickle cell anemia are more resistant to malaria.

The differences in our immune systems/genetic makeup can make us more, or less susceptible to various things (and in many cases, there are compromises, like with sickle cell anemia, i.e. pros for X, cons for Y).

Inherited immunity from generational experience/exposure absolutely is a thing, which is what makes novel viruses potentially so dangerous; we don't have any developed immunity from prior exposure (personal or generational).

Most folks are unaware, but the Inuit (Eskimo) had no prior experience with colds, until the first explorers introduced it to them. With no generational exposure or developed immunity/resistance, it almost wiped the Inuit off the face of the earth, killing about ~95% of them.

The currently surviving Inuit are descended from that ~5% who survived the introduction of the common cold. Pathogens that the rest of the world has had such long exposure to over generations, that it's mostly an inconvenience and not an actual threat.

Even now, the Inuit are still generally more vulnerable to upper respiratory illnesses/infections (generationally, they're comparatively still infants as far as exposure goes).

Our immune systems are a combination of inherited immunities from a combination of both our parent's immune makeups, plus our own developed immunities from our own personal exposure.

Here's an interesting read on resistance to the different groups of Type A influenza, based on initial childhood exposure:
https://science.sciencemag.org/content/354/6313/722

If you're bored, and are looking for material to dig into, look into MHC Major HistoCompatibility.

Interesting tidbit:
The differences in our immune systems, also govern what bacteria can survive/thrive on our skin. Different bacteria breakdown organic matter etc. differently. This in turn, governs our natural odor.

The most amazing thing, is that tests and studies have shown that women (especially when they're ovulating) can actually differentiate these body odors, and are subconsciously/naturally attracted to the body odors that tell them the male would provide their offspring with the stronger immune system (we're talking about the smell of fresh perspiration, not sour, stale, stinky BO).

Unfortunately, in Western society in general, we've taken to shortcircuiting this biological mechanism, by things like masking our scents with fragrances (or altering hormonal balances with things like birth control).
 
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bluemax_1 said:
You must've missed the article about the town in CO that had mountain lions walking through the neighborhoods in broad daylight, because the streets were empty enough. I'll bet it helped encourage people to stay indoors too.
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No, I've seen them all and stories like these really warms me ol' cockles :D I think that mankind has betrayed most of the other species by totally dumping on our Mother Nature. I'm no tree hugging hippie who lives to be eaten by something like a friggin grizzly bear, but I am also not the type who wanna shoot it just for sports and bragging rights with a rifle from 500 yards away (I don't mind shooting one that far away with a camera though!). During this COVID-19, all kinda wild life has been teeming all over the place, so to me at least, it is heart warming to see these animals and their off springs roaming more freely without the fear of the most loathed predator on the face of the Earth.

Now something really ironic which I noted in that photo I had posted earlier on, after I had already posted it :D

TLZDEou.jpg
 
On a road trip with some friends back in college, we stopped at a truck stop to use the restrooms, get gas, snacks and drinks etc.

The friend who was driving comes up and says, "Hey, I got this cool bumper sticker!". I look at the bumper sticker and ask, "Uhhh... why'd you get that?". He says, "I dunno. I thought it was kinda cool". So I asked, "I'm gonna assume you don't know what it means?". He says, "Not really. Why? What does it mean?".

It was one of those, "No Lot Lizards" stickers :p
 
Casinostocks said:
Real and serious question:

Is it possible that some among us humans are immune to all kinda viral diseases and the sorta respiratory plagues which can be deadly to many others? I’m asking because a while ago I watched a program (PBS?) where some scientists pursued the descendants of the terrible Black Plague survivors in England. These scientists were interested in linking some form of genetic mutations in people who were immune to the HIV virus to the very same people who were also immune to BP, IIRC.
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They should study Keith Richards, that motherfucker is immune to everything!:D
 
Lorien said:
pretty sure the lizard people that wear human skin are immune
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What about the crab people? lol

But in all seriousness, I don't think anyone is 100% immune to everything but there are definitely people who can better cope with illness than others. Just look at the different age groups - generally, the younger you are, the better you can respond to an infection.
 
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