Understanding Major Diseases and Immunization Strategies

Diabetes and Glucose Regulation

Diabetes is a disease in which the glucose level in the blood is altered. This level increases because the body does not metabolize glucose properly.

Insulin: This hormone controls glucose levels in the blood and is produced by the pancreas.

Types of Diabetes Mellitus

Type 1 Diabetes

• Characterized by the body producing little or no insulin.
• Onset typically occurs before age 40, often during childhood or adolescence.

Type 2 Diabetes

• Characterized by the body not producing enough insulin or not utilizing it well (insulin resistance).
• Onset typically occurs after age 40, and it is the most common type.
• Management involves diet, exercise, medication, and sometimes insulin injections.

Biotechnology and Recombinant Insulin

Recombinant insulin is human insulin produced by bacteria that have been genetically modified. This process involves cloning the insulin gene into the bacterial genome and introducing it into the bacteria for mass production.

Pluripotent Stem Cells

Pluripotent stem cells can transform into any of the 200 cell types found in the body. These cells could potentially be implanted to renew damaged tissues or organs.

Malaria: Cause and Transmission

Malaria is caused by Plasmodium microorganisms.

The parasite infects liver cells and reproduces inside, eventually causing the cell to rupture. This leads to intense symptoms such as fever, chills, and anemia.

Malaria Transmission Cycle

The cycle involves the Anopheles mosquito vector:

1. A mosquito bites an infected person, ingesting the parasite (which develops in the mosquito's salivary glands).
2. The infected mosquito bites a healthy person, injecting the Plasmodium cells, which then infect the host.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs but can also impact other organs. It was the most widespread disease globally and caused many deaths until the discovery of antituberculosis drugs.

Resurgence of Tuberculosis

Lately, there has been a resurgence of TB due to several factors:

• Co-infection with AIDS/HIV.
• Emergence of variants of drug-resistant bacteria.
• Incomplete treatment adherence, which promotes resistance and allows the infection to spread to more people.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

AIDS is an infection caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). HIV infects and destroys many cell types, particularly those belonging to the immune system.

Transmission Routes

HIV is transmitted through:

• Contact with infected blood.
• Unprotected sexual intercourse.
• From mother to child during childbirth.

Currently, there is no cure for AIDS, but treatments exist to manage the condition.

Vaccines and Antimicrobial Agents

Vaccines and Immunization

A vaccine is a preparation designed to protect, with more or less lasting effect, against a specific disease.

Passive Immunization

Involves administering pre-formed antibodies against the disease. This provides immediate protection, but it is short in duration.

Active Immunization

Involves administering dead or weakened microorganisms, prompting the body to produce its own antibodies against them. Protection takes several days to appear but is long lasting.

Antibiotics

An antibiotic is a substance produced by a microorganism that has the property to kill or inhibit the growth of others (bacteria or fungi). Antibiotics are not effective against viruses.