Page 31 - The Miracle of the Immune System

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Besieged Castle: The Human Body

Who are Our Micro Enemies?
Our micro enemies, on the other hand, are micro-organisms, which
are not a part of our bodies, yet which have somehow penetrated our bod-
ies, eventually stimulating the defence army therein.

Every foreign cell that enters the body is not, however treated as an
enemy. Foreign matter constantly enters our bodies as we eat, drink wa-
ter, or take medicine. Yet our body does not initiate a war with it. In order
for the defence cells to perceive a foreign substance as an enemy, certain
conditions are taken into consideration such as the size of the molecule,
its rate of elimination from the body, and its way of entering the body.

Bacteria
Among our innumerable micro ene-
mies, bacteria have an established repu-

tation.
Bacteria, which enter the human
body in multiple ways, instigate a
fierce war in the body. Sometimes end-
ing up with quite serious illnesses,
these wars explicitly reveal the power and abili-
ty hidden in an organism the size of a few mi- The magnified view of bacte-
ria on the tip of a needle.
crons (a micron is one thousandth of a millime-
ter). Recent research has shown that bacteria have an extraordinary resist-
ance even to the most severe and harsh conditions. Particularly, the bacte-
ria known as spores are resistant to extremely high temperatures and
drought for extended periods. This is why it is difficult to destroy certain
microbes.

Viruses
The human body resembles a very valuable diamond stored in a safe,
receiving the most intensive care and protection. Some of the organisms