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Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection01:26

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

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The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
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The immune system's response to viral infections is a complex and coordinated process involving natural killer (NK) cells, T cell-mediated responses, and antibody-mediated responses.
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Immunological Memory01:23

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Immunological memory, a pivotal pillar of the adaptive immune system, is responsible for the body's ability to remember and respond more swiftly and effectively to previously encountered pathogens. This remarkable feature is what makes vaccines so effective in preventing diseases.
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Infection01:20

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When a pathogen enters the body and reproduces, it can cause an infection, damage body cells, and cause illness symptoms that eventually lead to disease. Therefore, its prevention requires breaking the chain of infection.
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Defense Mechanism Against Infection01:26

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Natural flora, body system defenses, and inflammation are natural barriers of the body against infectious agents regardless of previous exposure. Normal floras of the human body refer to the microbial population that colonizes the skin and mucous membranes.
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Exploring links between pathogen avoidance motivation, COVID-19 case counts, and immune function.

Michael P Muehlenbein1, Jeffrey Gassen1, Tomasz J Nowak1

  • 1Department of Anthropology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA.

American Journal of Human Biology : the Official Journal of the Human Biology Council
|November 16, 2022
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Immune markers shifted with SARS-CoV-2 infection risk, showing biological immune system responses to pathogen threats. Stress did not mediate these observed relationships between infection risk and immune function.

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Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Behavioral Science
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Pathogen-driven selection pressures influence animal biology and behavior.
  • The behavioral immune system comprises cognitive, affective, and behavioral disease avoidance mechanisms.
  • Interactions between behavioral and biological immune systems are an emerging research area.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the link between individual differences in behavioral immune system activity, shifts in SARS-CoV-2 infection risk, and immune function.
  • To explore how infection risk influences physiological stress and distress.
  • To determine if stress mediates the relationship between infection risk and immune markers.

Main Methods:

  • Community cohort study in McLennan County, Texas (n=387).
  • Assessed behavioral immune system activity (e.g., pathogen disgust).
  • Monitored SARS-CoV-2 case counts and measured serum immune markers (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-8) and bacterial killing ability.

Main Results:

  • Disease concern levels did not consistently correlate with immune markers.
  • Serum levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-8, and E. coli killing ability varied with SARS-CoV-2 case counts.
  • Case counts predicted changes in stress physiology but not subjective distress; stress did not mediate immune outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Immune function markers demonstrate sensitivity to changing infection risk during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Findings support the integration of behavioral and biological pathogen management mechanisms.
  • This study provides initial evidence for the dynamic interplay between perceived and actual pathogen threat on immune status.