Ask A Scientist Answered!

I take back what I said in my previous post. Ask a scientist answered my questions! So with a warm and fuzzy feeling inside I gladly post their answer to my question.

Ana, thank you for submitting the following question to the
Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Ask a Scientist website:


How does the cell membrane differentiate between possible harmful agents to other agents that are allowed to pass the cell wall? Could this information be used to end viral infections in the future?

Here is a response provided by one of our volunteer scientists:


The cell cannot detect noxious substances that readily cross the cell membrane, that is why ethanol is a good antibacterial agent. Evolution has been at play for many millennium and cells are able to block chemicals that may be toxic and that are frequently found in the environment are the rule. The evidence suggests that viruses have been in existence for as long as cells have so they have co-evolved. The successful viruses are ones that can reproduce and spread without killing the host cell. The common cold is a great example. The newer viruses can be high risk to the host - like SARS, Ebola, and new influenza strains. Historically, Ebola may kill more than 90% of people it infects, wiping out whole villages. The virus too is wiped out since there are no more hosts left to infect.

It is unlikely we can manipulate the complicated cell membrane to act as an anti-viral. But we can do other things to protect ourselves, like using good hand washing technique before we eat or prepare food, and after using the bathroom or handling animals.


We welcome feedback from you about this answer to your question and
appreciate your interest in Ask a Scientist.


Ask a Scientist Coordinator



Disclaimer:

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Ask a Scientist website provides a forum for teachers, students, and others to discuss biomedical topics with scientists. Participating scientists answer questions to the best of their knowledge. The information they provide is intended for educational purposes only. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute assumes no responsibility for the scientific accuracy of Ask a Scientist responses or for the content of references and Web links that may be provided in responses. Views expressed in Ask a Scientist responses are not necessarily those of HHMI.