Natures wonders: molecular battles (Introduction)

by David Turell @, Friday, December 12, 2014, 00:54 (3396 days ago) @ David Turell

Humans hide iron atoms in transferrin so invading bacteria can't use it for their metabolism:-"Following infection, the familiar sneezing, runny nose, and inflammation are all part of the immune system's attempts to rid the body of hostile invaders. Lesser known is a separate defense against invasive microbes, called nutritional immunity, that quietly takes place under our skin. This defense mechanism starves infectious bacteria by hiding circulating iron, an essential nutrient it needs for survival. The protein that transports iron in the blood, transferrin, tucks the trace metal safely out of reach."- Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2014-12-human-dna-million-year-survival-primate.html#jCp


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