1
$\begingroup$

If a drop of my blood is dropped into a pool of pathogens. Does that act as "reverse-vaccination" for said pathogens?

I see this it as a potential risk for bacteria/viruses to compete or get acclimated with the weakened/dormant/key-specific of the immune system.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

$\endgroup$

1 Answer 1

1
$\begingroup$

You have got the concept of vaccination a bit wrong. Pathogens have to evolve to acquire resistance to immune system (or antibiotics). Technically, the white blood cells also evolve to acquire resistance against pathogens if they don't have a strong innate immunity. Development of immunity after vaccination is also not instantaneous. The pathogen population has to "grow" in the blood for at least a few generations to become resistant. A drop of blood would probably not give the pathogen enough time to evolve. Moreover, your white blood cells will die quickly outside the body unless they are cultured in a controlled environment. Therefore, the selection pressure to evolve would also not be there.

$\endgroup$

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .