Microbiologists and those who intently study the origin and spread of infectious diseases are dismayed. millions of people, drawn from widely different geographical locations gather together for sports events like the Olympics or World Cup , or religious events like the Haj or Kumbh Mela yet, no major outbreak of infectious diseases has been reported. The Hindu religious festival Kumbh Mela where over 70 million people reportedly gather and dip into the same ( albeit, flowing ) waters, is another such unique event. Though there are stringent guidelines regarding vaccinations against varieties of infectious diseases, the health hazards can never be undermined. Hence there is a new interest on closely monitoring such " Global Mass Gatherings" and scientists put their heads together recently during a three day conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Oct 23—25, 2010
Scientists are divided on their opinion. The argument that sports events usually draw together hale and healthy youngsters with the best built-in immunity profiles, and hence the chances of infections are rare could indeed be valid. However, that is not the demographic profile at religious gathering. So there is something hidden from view, which guards against. Kamran Khan a specialist in Infectious Diseases, at St. Michaels Hospital, Toronto, Canada, has been collecting data for quite some time on the Haj pilgrims. He admits, tha the Saudi Government indeed went to great lengths to prevent any kind of human disaster by insisting on the necessary immunizations as part of the pilgrims travel plans, screening pilgrims at the arrival points, quarantining and treating the sick at lightening speed. He quotes figures for 2009, at the peak of H1N1 scare, 2.5 million pilgrims visited Mecca, and less than 100 were diagnosed with flu. Could it be that we are too paranoid about microbes and infectious diseases? ( I can’t help but drawing your attention to an earlier piece “Befriending Allergens”, where we discussed the benefits of being on "Hello, How are you?" terms with other life forms and chemicals)
So a new project has been initiated, Human Microbiome Project.(HMP). This is along the lines of the Human Genome Project ( HGP) initiated about two decades ago, to unravel the locational and functional mysteries of the genes encoded along the length of the human DNA chain. That exercise is complete, and we have plucked all the low hanging fruits. However lot more remains elusive and enigmatic and scientists are in pursuit. It is altogether another matter that the HGP also dealt a rather a severe blow to our vanity that less than 25000 genes are enough to define a human being, and that is as much as the mouse needs too.
What does the HMP endeavor to achieve? Scientists are already aware that the human body is literally the universe for trillions of microorganisms that coexist within us and on us, Extensive studies have been carried out on the microbial communities in the gut and have necessitated that we do acknowledge the service they render to us. The HMP, intends to go beyond the gut microbiota, and do the microbial mapping of the entire human body. Known for the precise and systematic methods, scientists are being site specific: Ear, nose, mouth, throat, under arms, inside elbows………………
Initial results have shown that the the microbiota map is very different from individual to individual and then within each individual there are umpteen site specific variations, too. Are we gearing up for another blow? The HMP might reveal that " We are, but what our microbes make us to be.!"
Tailpiece
Robert Hook (1635-1703)( of course, the Hook's Law fame) gave us the first concise book on the minute bodies. Armed with just a microscope, he explored the realm of micro dimensions. The book was published in 1666 by Royal Society of London. And then in 1675, Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek (1632–1723) established that there are life forms, so small that they are not visible to the naked eye.
Tailpiece
Robert Hook (1635-1703)( of course, the Hook's Law fame) gave us the first concise book on the minute bodies. Armed with just a microscope, he explored the realm of micro dimensions. The book was published in 1666 by Royal Society of London. And then in 1675, Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek (1632–1723) established that there are life forms, so small that they are not visible to the naked eye.
References:
1. Reflection and reaction The Lancet Copnference on Mass Gathering Medicine ,
Lancet Infectious Diseases pp 818-819, vol.10, 2010, McConnel and Memish
2. Infectious disease surveillance and modelling across geographic frontiers and scientific
specialties The Lancet Infectious Diseases, pp 222-230, Vol. 12(3).2012
Dr Kamran Khan MD, and others
3. Tackling the Microbiome, (Editorial, L Hood), Science , 1209 vol.336, 2012
4. Do Sports Events Give Microbes a Chance to Score?, Kupferdchmidt. Science 1224-
25, vol.336 2012
5. Science, All articles in the special section 1245– 73 , Vol 336, 2012.
