Human body is swarming with microorganisms. In our body there are more than ten types of bacterial cells as human cells. They survive on human skin, in respiratory tract and all through the digestive system. The digestive tract alone is home to more than one thousand types of bacteria.
Researchers from Loyola University Health System have discovered that certain types of microorganisms boost the immune system. Some microbes cause infections but most genuses are harmless and perform beneficial functions in the body, like assisting digestion process. These are known as commensal bacteria. The most important faction of commensal bacteria is to boost the immune system.
In one study researchers have found that mice lifted in hygienic and germ free surroundings have developed immune system badly. But the mechanism by which bacteria help the immune system is still unknown to researchers. The spores from road shaped microbes called Bacillus that are found in digestive tract were studied by Knight’s lab.
Spores are consisting of the DNA of bacterium, which is covered in a shell. Spores are formed from bacteria during time of stress and rematerialized when conditions improved. They found that when immune system cells called B lymphocytes are exposed to bacterial spores then B cells began isolating and replicating.
Molecules on the surface of the spores jump to molecules of the surface of B cells. This fastening activated B cells to isolate and replicate. B cells are one of the key constituents of the immune system. They make antibodies that clash harmful bacteria and viruses. Such findings would some day be used to treat people with weakened immune system.
The findings would also help patients undergoing bone marrow transplants. In patients of cancer bacterial spores possibly could boost the immune system to clash tumors.