Tag Archives: complement

What makes the smallpox vaccine so great?

Posted on 19 January 2013 by mmmbitesizescience

Perhaps one of the most incredibly effective vaccines ever used, against smallpox, has completely eradicated a terribly nasty human disease. Yet the way in which vaccinia virus, the live poxvirus contained in the smallpox vaccine, actually orchestrates a protective immune … Continue reading →

Rate this:

Posted in Disease, Microorganisms, Science, Vaccines | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Parasite Philosophy: Just Keep Swimming!

Posted on 30 November 2012 by mmmbitesizescience

Lots of microorganisms can survive in remarkably difficult conditions – bacteria can bloom in hot springs at 80°C, archaea live around hydrothermal vents reaching a toasty 113°C, while viruses can survive in the Arctic sea ice. For human pathogens, only … Continue reading →

Rate this:

Posted in Disease, Evolution, Microorganisms, Science | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments