Latent Viruses
“Latency” means that the Virus, once burrowing into some Cells of yours, goes into hibernation for a while, just lurking near your own cellular DNA, but not yet replicating itself. At some later point, something triggers the dormant virus out of latency and it reactivates. After going through a couple of rounds of replication the by now larger number of viral particles burrow in and go latent again. The classic example are herpes viruses which, after infecting some of your neurons, can go latent for years, even decades, before flaring up out of latency. (Location 2784)
It’s been endlessly documented that latent viruses like herpes ==flare up during times of physical or psychological Stress== in all sorts of species. (Location 2793)
Herpes doesn’t measure how your immune system is doing. It measures something else that, for its purposes, gives it the information it needs—it ==measures your Glucocorticoids levels==. Herpes DNA contains a stretch that is sensitive to elevated glucocorticoid signals, and when levels are up, that DNA sensor activates the genes involved in coming out of latency. Epstein-Barr and varicella-zoster contain this glucocorticoid-sensitive stretch as well. (Location 2798)
You know what else herpes can do once it infects your nervous system? It causes your ==Hypothalamus to release CRH== which releases ACTH which raises glucocorticoid levels. (Location 2802)
⇒ 031 🧬DNA
see also
Tags: science medicine biology
Superlink: 091 🏃Body and Medicine, 090 🌱Biology
Source
8 Immunity Stress and Diseases
Created: 16-09-22 16:45