scholarly journals COVID-19: human immune response and the influence of food ingredients and active compounds

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 100
Author(s):  
Raphael Ayivi ◽  
Salam Ibrahim ◽  
Heather Colleran ◽  
Roberta Silva ◽  
Leonard Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Critical Element ◽  
Human Immune System ◽  
Active Compounds ◽  
Food Ingredients ◽  
Influence Of Food ◽  
Human Immune ◽  
The Impact

The human immune system is the first line of defense in the prevention of viruses and diseases, and several immune response mechanisms are engaged at the onset of a pathogenic attack. In this review, we elucidate the human immune system as a critical element in protecting humans from COVID-19 by describing the immune process, explaining how the immune system functions, and highlighting the immune system’s global importance in fighting infections. Potential challenges that limit the  proper functioning of the immune system are also discussed. In addition, we address the impact of nutrition on boosting the body’s defenses against COVID-19. For example, some foods and active compounds from food ingredients have been suggested as a way to strengthen the immune system. Physical exercise has also been encouraged as an important way to support the immune response to viral infections. The aim of this review is thus to outline holistic self-defense immunity mechanisms that can help to reduce the risk of viral infections in humans. This review could therefore be used as a comprehensive resource for educating consumers and the general public about measures that can enhance the body’s immune support system as we continue to fight COVID-19 and its variants.Keywords: Immunity, Covid-19 COVID-19, Nutrition, Bioactive compounds, Food Ingredients

scholarly journals The Role of Micronutrients in Support of the Immune Response against Viral Infections

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 3198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Pecora ◽  
Federica Persico ◽  
Alberto Argentiero ◽  
Cosimo Neglia ◽  
Susanna Esposito
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Immune Response ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Omega 3 Fatty Acids ◽  
Omega 3 ◽  
Optimal Function ◽  
The Impact

Viral infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and the importance of public health practices including handwashing and vaccinations in reducing their spread is well established. Furthermore, it is well known that proper nutrition can help support optimal immune function, reducing the impact of infections. Several vitamins and trace elements play an important role in supporting the cells of the immune system, thus increasing the resistance to infections. Other nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, help sustain optimal function of the immune system. The main aim of this manuscript is to discuss of the potential role of micronutrients supplementation in supporting immunity, particularly against respiratory virus infections. Literature analysis showed that in vitro and observational studies, and clinical trials, highlight the important role of vitamins A, C, and D, omega-3 fatty acids, and zinc in modulating the immune response. Supplementation with vitamins, omega 3 fatty acids and zinc appears to be a safe and low-cost way to support optimal function of the immune system, with the potential to reduce the risk and consequences of infection, including viral respiratory infections. Supplementation should be in addition to a healthy diet and fall within recommended upper safety limits set by scientific expert bodies. Therefore, implementing an optimal nutrition, with micronutrients and omega-3 fatty acids supplementation, might be a cost-effective, underestimated strategy to help reduce the burden of infectious diseases worldwide, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

scholarly journals Sunlight Effects on Immune System: Is There Something Else in addition to UV-Induced Immunosuppression?

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. H. González Maglio ◽  
M. L. Paz ◽  
J. Leoni
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Suppressive Effect ◽  
Bone Homeostasis ◽  
Human Immune System ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Skin Cells ◽  
New Information ◽  
Human Immune ◽  
Life On Earth ◽  
The Impact

Sunlight, composed of different types of radiation, including ultraviolet wavelengths, is an essential source of light and warmth for life on earth but has strong negative effects on human health, such as promoting the malignant transformation of skin cells and suppressing the ability of the human immune system to efficiently detect and attack malignant cells. UV-induced immunosuppression has been extensively studied since it was first described by Dr. Kripke and Dr. Fisher in the late 1970s. However, skin exposure to sunlight has not only this and other unfavorable effects, for example, mutagenesis and carcinogenesis, but also a positive one: the induction of Vitamin D synthesis, which performs several roles within the immune system in addition to favoring bone homeostasis. The impact of low levels of UV exposure on the immune system has not been fully reported yet, but it bears interesting differences with the suppressive effect of high levels of UV radiation, as shown by some recent studies. The aim of this article is to put some ideas in perspective and pose some questions within the field of photoimmunology based on established and new information, which may lead to new experimental approaches and, eventually, to a better understanding of the effects of sunlight on the human immune system.

scholarly journals Mecanismos de la respuesta inmune adaptativa: respuesta específica y de protección a largo plazo

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (8) ◽  
pp. 25-43
Author(s):  
William de Jesús Ríos-Ríos ◽  
Jair Aguilar-Cruz
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Adaptive Immune Response ◽  
Molecular Structures ◽  
Pathogenic Microorganism ◽  
Human Immune System ◽  
Adaptive Immune ◽  
Specific Immunity ◽  
Human Immune

The human immune system has evolvedtoachieveahighlyefficient, specialized and specific immunity against particular molecular structures of each pathogenic microorganism and to develop mechanisms allowing to respond more quickly and efficiently to subsequent encounters with the same invading agent: the adaptive immune response. This paper describes the connection between the innate and adaptive immune response, as well as the cellular and humoral mechanisms of control and long-term protection of the adaptive immune response.

scholarly journals A comprehensive logic-based model of the human immune system to study the dynamics responses to mono- and coinfections

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhanwar Lal Puniya ◽  
Robert Moore ◽  
Akram Mohammed ◽  
Rada Amin ◽  
Alyssa La Fleur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Computational Models ◽  
Single Infection ◽  
Human Immune System ◽  
Adaptive Immune ◽  
Adaptive Immune Cells ◽  
Human Immune

AbstractThe human immune system, which protects against pathogens and diseases, is a complex network of cells and molecules. The effects of complex dynamical interactions of pathogens and immune cells on the immune response can be studied using computational models. However, a model of the entire immune system is still lacking. Here, we developed a comprehensive computational model that integrates innate and adaptive immune cells, cytokines, immunoglobulins, and nine common pathogens from different classes of virus, bacteria, parasites, and fungi. This model was used to investigate the dynamics of the immune system under two scenarios: (1) single infection with pathogens, and (2) various medically relevant pathogen coinfections. In coinfections, we found that the order of infecting pathogens has a significant impact on the dynamics of cytokines and immunoglobulins. Thus, our model provides a tool to simulate immune responses under different dosage of pathogens and their combinations, which can be further extended and used as a tool for drug discovery and immunotherapy. Furthermore, the model provides a comprehensive and simulatable blueprint of the human immune system as a result of the synthesis of the vast knowledge about the network-like interactions of various components of the system.

scholarly journals Computational Modeling of Microabscess Formation

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Bittencourt Pigozzo ◽  
Gilson Costa Macedo ◽  
Rodrigo Weber dos Santos ◽  
Marcelo Lobosco
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Computational Modeling ◽  
Bacterial Infection ◽  
Computational Model ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Distinct Pattern ◽  
Human Immune System ◽  
Human Immune

Bacterial infections can be of two types: acute or chronic. The chronic bacterial infections are characterized by being a large bacterial infection and/or an infection where the bacteria grows rapidly. In these cases, the immune response is not capable of completely eliminating the infection which may lead to the formation of a pattern known as microabscess (or abscess). The microabscess is characterized by an area comprising fluids, bacteria, immune cells (mainly neutrophils), and many types of dead cells. This distinct pattern of formation can only be numerically reproduced and studied by models that capture the spatiotemporal dynamics of the human immune system (HIS). In this context, our work aims to develop and implement an initial computational model to study the process of microabscess formation during a bacterial infection.

scholarly journals Tobacco Use and the Risk of Suffering from COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (T4) ◽  
pp. 111-117
Author(s):  
Dianita Sugiyo ◽  
Ralalicia Limato ◽  
Saskia Dyah Handari
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
Human Immune System ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
The Status ◽  
Former Smokers ◽  
Human Immune ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become a global pandemic and is confirmed worldwide to cause a high mortality rates; as of the April 23, 2020, over 189,000 deaths have occurred in 2,700,800 COVID-19 cases. However, it appears that little consideration has been given to smokers and the users of tobacco-related products relative to the impact of the virus on that particular cohort of patients. AIM: The aim of the study was to commence a narrative review of research and academic articles of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) prevalence related to cigarette smoking and the consumption of tobacco-related products. METHODS: The study involved evidence-based publication searches on ProQuest and EBSCOhost databases informed by a number of keywords. The additional data were obtained from relevant journals searched manually, as well as following up references or primary articles. The search was conducted from April 23 to 24, 2020, adopting the use of several terms, such as “tobacco use” AND “COVID”, “tobacco use” AND “SARS-CoV-2”, “smokers” AND “COVID”, “cigarette” AND “SARS-CoV-2”, and “tobacco use” AND COVID-19 AND sars-cov-2. RESULTS: Several studies (n = 8) confirmed that conventional smoking and electronic cigarette use correlated with the decline of the human immune system and the feasibility of infection. The second group of evidence (n = 9) explored higher Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 among smokers, as the binding sites of SARS-COV-2. CONCLUSION: Tobacco use among smokers and former smokers is significantly correlated to the decline in the status of the human immune system and worsen the disease prognosis. In addition, smoking status is associated with a greater likelihood of smokers being infected with SARS-COV-2; a condition that can further develop into coronavirus disease.

scholarly journals Importance of functional nutrition components on new Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and other viral communicable diseases

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 286-299
Author(s):  
Serhan Mohammed ◽  
Nigün Özdemir ◽  
Ahmet Hilmi Çon
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Intestinal Microbiota ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Bioactive Components ◽  
Human Immune System ◽  
Human Immune

There are no foods to prevent or treat the coronavirus alone; however, it has been proven that a healthy and balanced nutrition is crucial for health, particularly in times when the immune system might need to fight back. The present study provides insights about the properties of bioactive components of foods and herbs as a possible adjuvant support the human immune system against infections. Also, has focused on the interactions of the intestinal microbiota with human health in the treatment of Covid-19 and other viral infections. More research with strong recommendations is needed to better understand causality.

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