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MASTERS OF SUBVERSION
An antigen is also the surface receptor at which the host’s immune system directs its missile-like antibodies. Another cunning strategy developed by the rhinovirus has been to place these receptors in a deep, hard-to-reach cleft on each of its twenty facets. These subterfuges allow the rhinovirus to trick its way past the vigilantes of the body’s immune system—the powerful macrophage cells. Like sentinels eternally on watch, these large scavenger cells roam the nasal blood vessels, as well as every other blood vessel in the body, on a constant surveillance mission. Whenever they encounter an organism with a non-self antigen, they zero in for the kill.
The immune system is the body’s defense organization against infections and cancer. Essentially, it consists of one trillion white blood cells, each of which is totally dedicated to destroying all non-self cells and particles in the body, whether living or not. Once recognized as non-self, organic invaders like cold or flu viruses are immediately attacked by the full range of the immune response. Whether fungus, protozoa, bacteria, virus, multi-celled organisms or our own cancer cells (which become non-self), all are relentlessly attacked until either the immune system or the invader wins out.
As the surviving rhinoviruses fanned out and contacted the cells in human’s nasal passages, some of the viruses were recognized as non-self by roving macrophages. But the viruses so outnumbered the macrophages that only a few were caught.
Nevertheless, each macrophage within range closed in on a virus. Then, using its arm-like pseudo pods, the macrophages groped deep within the clefts on the viruses’ surfaces. Some were able to pluck out a viral antigen.
This triumphant act effectively sealed the virus’s fate. From now on, these captured antigens would serve as patterns for the manufacture of billions of antibodies. In a few days or a week hordes of antibodies would paralyze and destroy the unwelcome virus.
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