why don't antibodies work on viral infections?
613810
Antibiotics work on the protein in a cell's membrane, usually denaturing the proteins and causing the cell to rupture.\n\nVirus do not have a cell membrane. They are not actually living, but instead take over the operations within a host cell. In order for an antibiotic to work on a virus, it would have to rupture the cell membrane of the host cell. In that case, the antibiotic would be toxic, and probably more deadly than the viral infection.
122618
AIDS is caused by a virus. The history problem is the number of people that have died from it or will die. Incompetence in the medical profession as well as the poor handling of the problem by governments have been the biggest problem. The virus has the ability to mutate so quickly which has also presented a problem. My hypothesis for a solution would be to reduce the viral load then slow the immune response without hindering the power of the immune system. The top medical researchers in the world can explain how a reduction of virus load could be accomplished with alcohol ( a concentration not producing intoxication will be very sufficient ). A top AIDS researcher can verify research that has slowed the immune response so that cells survive ( I believe the jargon in medicine calls it entry inhibitors ). Perhaps AIDS researchers would verify the same thing could be accomplished with peppermint oil lozenges. This could be a less expensive solution to help third world countries. After this treatment for a short period of time medical researchers could introduce a vaccine (even a non-specific one) into the patients bloodstream. This treatment uses the natural immune system which means there wouldn't be the problems we now have in the virus mutating so rapidly rendering the drugs used now useless against it. If medical professionals really want to help people perhaps it could be a very good solution.
1040546
the virus likes to mutate. so even if they did have one.. it wouldn't work for very long
1079437
Although all bodily fluids have potential for viral infection, saliva and urine are unlikely routes.  Not impossible, just unlikely.
1010410
protein molecules serve as antibodies to fight of any foreigners such as bacteria and viruses
501206
HIV, human immunodeficency virus, works like any other RNA virus initially, it enters or sits on the outside of a cell and injects in RNA.  The RNA changes the DNA of the cell and makes a cell that would normally produce benifical stuff for the body produce more viruses that go on to attack more cells.  Each virus chooses special cells to infect.  HIV chooses 2 different cells.  T4s, or T-helper cells & monocyte-macrophages.  T4s help your immune system idetify things, they put up a little flag, that macrophages see and go "eat" or grind up.  Anyway, the T4s fill up with new viruses and eventually they explode, known as cell lysis.  The macrophages never explode, but they don't do a very good job of eating things because they are busy making viruses.  \n\nSo basically, HIV hijacks your immune cells that identify what's bad for the body (T4s) and makes them make viruses until they explode.  The new viruses go and hijack more T4 cells.  They also slow down the eating macropages.  So your body can't identify what's bad & can't take care of it.  What's left is few immune cells & lots of HIV.  The virus wins and the patient usually dies of something most of us could fend off on our own, like pnemonia or brochitis.  Hope this helps & isn't too much geek stuff to follow.
781959
The IgG test is looking for antibodies in the blood to HSV-2.  It does take time for the antibodies to develop following the first infection with the virus. I do not know if it 6-8wks, I am assuming that this is what the doctor told her.  It is possible that she was negative previously.  Example: a woman presents with her first outbreak of genital herpes.  culture of the genital blisters confirms the presence of herpes, but her blood test does not show any IgG antibodies yet, but will in the future.  So, if your friend was known to be negative HSV-2 IgG around 6-8 wks ago and now is positive it is a recent infection. I would be wary of using her services.  most herpes infections are transmitted when no lesions are present and condoms do not protect from herpes.
172157
Not usually.\nOnce we have recovered from a bacterial or viral infection our body's defense system can very quickly protect us against a second attack - this is 'natural immunity'.\nWe make use of this mechanism in immunisation by injecting (usually) weakened or inactive microbes (or part of a microbe) which creates an immune response - production of antibodies. We are immune to future attacks.\n\nA second dose of a disease is unlikely but possible - I have had measles twice!\nScarlet fever is easily treated with antibiotics, though I've had this too. It is not pleasant.\n\nHave a look here:
303407
I'm not a doctor. However, what i know is HIV cannot be ruled out without specific tests for HIV.\n\nAt the early stage of AIDS, there is no change in white blood cell (CD4 lymphocyte) count.(CD4 lymphocyte is a type of white blood cells that HIV attacks.). It is only when virus load reaches a certain limit and symptoms start appearing, then CD4 count will be decreased.\n\nEven when someone is infected with HIV, a period of about 3 months is required for the HIV detection test to turn positive. During this "window period", the anti-HIV antibody cannot be detected.
47746
very concerned, think about chain reactions. lets say i have a infected chicken, and i skin it. i give the feathers to a pillow company and the rest to a processing company. lets say that a woman with three children buys the chicken, and she works at a school. think of all those people the workers and children pass by at work/school, and the people they love. that is serious.\n\nYes we should, unfortunately, we dont have antibodies for the avian flu. Yet.
1005331
When the HIV compromised immune system progresses to the stage of AIDs, the bodies natural ability to produce antibodies to fight off infection can become compromised to the point that death can occur even from the common cold.
776733
I assume the end of the question was "antibodies" or "antigens" and the answer is false for both.\n\nHowever there have been a few moderately successful attempts at engineering antibodies with catalytic activity. But in normal cellular physiology only specific enzymes speed up chemical reactions.
43729
Well, Iam no Doctor but still I will try to explain what I can recollect from my School biology classes. Vaccine is basically dead or weak micro organisms injected into our body so that our antibodies (proteins for immunity) get trained to fight them. Once they are trained (pardon my layman's language) they are ready to fight strong micro organisms of the same type. But in the case of HIV - these viruses have a special ability they can simply change their form ie even if we train our antibodies - by the time our antibodies get trained the virus changes its form. So that the virus looks like an entirely new variety. Further thier is a wide variety of HIV strains. This is only one of the reasons. For further details read these please: http://www.lanl.gov/news/index.php?fuseaction=home.story&story_id=1306&view=print\nhttp://www.amfar.org/cgi-bin/iowa/news/press/record.html?record=109
654149
It depends on a few things: how old you were when you had it, how severe your case was, and how healthy you are now.  If you were very young (like, 2 years or younger) it is possible that your body didn't make sufficient antibodies for your adult life.  If you didn't have a very serious case, the same may be true.  If you have a compromised immune system for any reason, you could also be vulnerable.\n\nHowever, if you are healthy, had a pretty solid case previously, and were at least old enough to remember being sick, you're probably okay.  Still, I wouldn't suggest going out of your way to be around your roomates' things.  Wash your hands, get lots of rest, drink lots of fluids - play it safe.
53215
There may have been trace amounts of the antibodies in your system but not enough to determine for sure if you have HIV or not, also, it may have been taken to soon after contracting the virus, you should take another test soon. If you do have the antibodies, that means you have the virus, cuz antibodies are only present in your blood when they are trying to fight off something in your body. \n\nI hope things turn out right for you, GOOD LUCK
442333
We can treat some diseases caused by viruses by vaccinations. Smallpox was eradicated through vaccination. Viruses use the host cell to replicate rather than cell division. They make many copies of themselves and in doing so mutate when a mistake is made in copying. Antiviral treatments try and stop the virus from replicating itself.\n\nThere are two types of mutation at least in influenza viruses: antigenic drift where the viruses mutate gradually and antigenic drift where the change is more sudden. Most viruses don't mutate all that often but HIV and flu viruses do.
405224
Play it safe and get tested! There are many different symptoms and can be confused with other causes. Symptoms are not a reliable way to diagnose HIV infection. Testing for HIV antibodies is the only way to know whether you have been infected