Trying to get some stuff straight. - There are 200 types of common cold viruses. - 10-40% colds are caused by rhinoviruses, 160 human types = mostly spring/summer colds - 20% caused by 4 human types of coronaviruses, more winter colds - 20% RSV (1 virus, hits kids more)
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Hmm large mammals are actually a bad comparison. Viruses are as much smaller than bacteria (up to 100x) as insects are smaller than us. So we should map bacteria to predatory mammals and viruses to insects to get a better sense of proportions. Cholera = 2 μm = 2000nm
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After all some viruses, bacteriophages, infect bacteria. Sometimes making them worse. Apparently the CTXφ bacteriophage makes cholera more severe https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CTX φ_bacteriophage
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Lol, we’re just a sideshow in the viruses vs bacteria war for the planet . “It is estimated there are more than 10^31 bacteriophages on the planet, more than every other organism on Earth, including bacteria, combined.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteriophage …
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Wonder if there’s any home-grade experiments or observations you can do with harmless bacteria that don’t require an electron microscope and won’t bring the FBI down on you. Hobby virology should be a thing.
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From first QT, sounds like most cold viruses don’t do enough damage to require adaptive immune response (specific antigens). I guess first response stuff like interferon works well enough?
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