My conspiracy theory—the common cold...

[Xest]

But the planet is drastically overpopulated by Humans. Surely it would be morally & ethically correct to develop the virus further to the point where it would keep human population levels at a safe level by killing off say ... 99% of us?

The George W. Bush virus is already well on it's way towards that goal.

[Cromcruaich]

The cause of the common cold are multiple viruses within the Rhinovirus family.

About viruses, all they are is tiny packets of DNA (or sometimes RNA, in HIV for example) wrapped in proteins. They have no cell membrane or structure. Their entire function is to get inside cells and use the cell's mechanisms to reproduce the virus's DNA/RNA to reproduce itself. To get inside a cell the virus must dock with the cell membrane and inject its genetic payload into the cell. It can only dock with bits (protein structures) on the cell that match with the virus's. A bit like a lock and a key.

Now its a truism that there is no cure for any viral infection. They are different from bacterial infections because bacteria can actually be cured by antibiotics, the majority of which work by simply punching holes in the bacterial cells, killing them. Viruses can't be killed - it would be like trying to kill a molecule of sugar or cellulose. Though because they are proteins heat does denature them (hence the bodies fever response).


There are ofcourse two main treatments for viral infections.

The primary one is vacination which in its most common form means injecting a modified version of the virus or its primary protein signature into your blood stream. This triggers the production of antibodies within your bloodstream and lymphatic system by white blood cells (I remember T-cells and macrophages - but feel free to look up the immune response, it fascinating and all very complicated!) which hang around there for ages (hence why you can have immunity for a lifetime) and bind to the active sites on any matching viruses preventing them from binding to the surface of cells (making the key not fit in the lock).

The second treatments are drug based, and importantly do not destroy the virus, but work generally by suppressing the replication of the viral genetic material.

The take home message here is that there is no cure for any viral based infection.

Often you will be prescribed antibiotics for a virus because opportunistic bacteria can often take advantage of your weakened immunse system result in you feeling a lot worse than you would be from just the viral infection.

Finally on to the specifics of the Rhinovirus's. There are a lot of different types, and each type mutates at a very quick rate within a bit of their dna/rna (i think they are actually an RNA virus as well - cant remember) that codes for the external proteins that the antibodies bind to to disable it. This means that every time the virus's change a sample of the virus has to be isolated and a new vaccination created, tested and then distributed.

Now if you doubt this then just take a bit of time to review masses of independant data that has been amassed with regards to this very interesting virus. The data has been subject to peer review across a broad base of scientists who do not share any common loyalties to governments or drug companies.

ta
Crom
SmithKlyne-Beecham

[Norcott]

mmmmm wrinkled you say ... thats something for Norcott he's starting to get his first wrinkles from spending time with me haha <sorry hun couldnt resist this one>

going grey more like.. :blank:

[Genedril]

Doctor Crom makes me wish I'd paid more attention at Biology A-Level......

I seem to remember covering the 'common' (or infact not common at all) cold then & I remember bits of what he's saying. Maybe I should drag out the text books again.... Then again maybe I should start a new conspiracy theory - none of you exist. I'm the only person in the world &... (wait that's been done before - I'm no good at this).

[OohhoO]

The George W. Bush virus is already well on it's way towards that goal.

Bah
I am sooo Teh Lose at baiting