Editing 2287: Pathogen Resistance
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | This comic is the 13th comic in a row in a [[:Category:COVID-19|series of comics]] | + | {{incomplete|Created by a MACROPHAGE HUGGING A BACTERIOPHAGE. Should briefly summarize the immune system (esp. macrophages and antibodies) and why it is so terrifying to pathogens. Also maybe use [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170307142718.htm this link]. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} |
+ | This comic is the 13th comic in a row in a [[:Category:COVID-19|series of comics]] about the {{w|2019–20 coronavirus outbreak|2020 pandemic}} of the {{w|coronavirus}} - {{w|SARS-CoV-2}}. | ||
Rather than expressing humanity's fears and pessimism about the pandemic, this strip anthropomorphizes some of the pathogens which afflict humanity and presents ''their'' fears and pessimism about possibly going extinct. This serves as a roundabout way of expressing hope and wonder at the ingenuity and tenacity of humans in the face of diseases past (with water sanitation, mosquito netting, and condoms) and present (with the power of social distancing and {{w|Gloria Gaynor}}'s hit song ''{{w|I Will Survive}}''). Gaynor recorded [https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/12/entertainment/coronavirus-gloria-gaynor-i-will-survive-trnd/index.html a video of herself washing her hands] for 20 seconds (the recommended length of time to wash hands for optimal cleanliness) to the background of her hit song. | Rather than expressing humanity's fears and pessimism about the pandemic, this strip anthropomorphizes some of the pathogens which afflict humanity and presents ''their'' fears and pessimism about possibly going extinct. This serves as a roundabout way of expressing hope and wonder at the ingenuity and tenacity of humans in the face of diseases past (with water sanitation, mosquito netting, and condoms) and present (with the power of social distancing and {{w|Gloria Gaynor}}'s hit song ''{{w|I Will Survive}}''). Gaynor recorded [https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/12/entertainment/coronavirus-gloria-gaynor-i-will-survive-trnd/index.html a video of herself washing her hands] for 20 seconds (the recommended length of time to wash hands for optimal cleanliness) to the background of her hit song. | ||
− | The three pathogens presented are | + | The three pathogens presented are a {{w|bacteriophage}}, a small colony of a {{w|coccus}}-shaped bacterium (such as ''{{w|Streptococcus}}''), and a {{w|protozoon}} (a caricature of a {{w|ciliate}}). Bacteriophages do not infect human cells (as the name suggests, they only infect bacteria), and have been studied for use as "{{w|phage therapy}}" ''for'' humans, especially in dealing with antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections (which is usually what people mean when they talk about "resistance" in the context of pathogens), but they are iconic, instantly-recognizable viruses, and some have been found to [https://phys.org/news/2015-11-bacteria-bacteriophages-collude-formation-clinically.html collude with bacteria] in forming certain antibiotic-resistant {{w|biofilm}}s. {{w|Balantidiasis|Only one kind of ciliate}} is known to cause human disease. However, ciliates are iconic for protozoa just as bacteriophages are for viruses (see, for example, Gary Larson's now-venerable [https://www.thefarside.com ''The Far Side''] cartoons). The ciliate may be a 'stand-in' for protozoa that cause widespread and dangerous human diseases, such as {{w|malaria}}. |
− | "The scariest thing in the universe" to these microbes is the human immune system, represented in the second panel and later by | + | "The scariest thing in the universe" to these microbes is the human immune system, represented in the second panel and later by antibodies (Y-shaped drawings) and anthropomorphized white blood cells. Specifically, the white blood cells shown are {{w|T cell}}s, the immune system's 'first responders'. As briefly described [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170307142718.htm here], if a T cell encounters an antigen that it is programmed to recognize (such as, for instance, a molecule of the viral protein coat), it 'hugs' the cell presenting the antigen as a precursor to summoning the immune system's heavy artillery. Hence the faux-Care Bears battle cry of the T cells, "Who wants a HUUUG?" |
− | The comic humorously considers pasta as an essential part of humans' fight against coronavirus. Pasta is an example of a dried food that can last a long time, if the orders to stay indoors continue | + | The comic humorously considers pasta as an essential part of humans' fight against coronavirus. Pasta is an example of a dried food that can last a long time, if the orders to stay indoors continue. However, not every culture consumes or likes pasta. |
− | The colony of cocci protests that it shouldn't be possible for humans to evolve "pathogen resistance" in the short period of months since the breakout of COVID-19, when humans require over a decade to reach sexual maturity, and in modern times often wait at least two decades before having children | + | The colony of cocci protests that it shouldn't be possible for humans to evolve "pathogen resistance" in the short period of months since the breakout of COVID-19, when humans require over a decade to reach sexual maturity, and in modern times often wait at least two decades before having children. Bacteria and viruses, on the other hand, reproduce in a matter of minutes, so that there may be hundreds of generations per day (comparable to the number of generations that have passed for humanity since the beginnings of agriculture), each of which presents opportunities to evolve new antigens that are not recognized by any antibodies present in the body or to evolve resistance to whatever antibiotic drugs a human might be using. However, as the bacteriophage explains, humans generally do not become resistant against pathogens by genetic drift (although there are researchers who are seeking to identify genes that encode resistances to various diseases and then propagate them to other humans through gene editing, as in the {{w|He Jiankui affair}}). Instead, humans "evolve" pathogen resistance through behavioral changes. The behaviors presented in this comic strip include: |
* Municipal water supplies, which are filtered and treated to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases, like cholera and dysentery. | * Municipal water supplies, which are filtered and treated to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases, like cholera and dysentery. | ||
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* Social or physical distancing, hand-washing, storable food, and electronic communications, to prevent the spread of diseases through casual contact, like COVID-19. | * Social or physical distancing, hand-washing, storable food, and electronic communications, to prevent the spread of diseases through casual contact, like COVID-19. | ||
− | These behaviors do not come from our genomes, passed along through reproduction, but from our brains, passed along by communication. | + | These behaviors do not come from our genomes, passed along through reproduction, but from our brains, passed along by communication. Some of the language of epidemiology is also used in discussion of communication, most notably "going viral" -- in this case, information is going viral to prevent viruses from going viral. |
− | The title text reverts to the point of view of humans and references a famous line from the graphic novel ''{{w|Watchmen}}'', where | + | The title text reverts to the point of view of humans and references a famous line from the graphic novel ''{{w|Watchmen}}'', where {{w|Rorschach (character)|Rorschach}}, whilst in prison and surrounded by enemies who want to kill him, proclaims: "I'm not locked up in here with YOU. You're locked up in here with ME." This presents an alternate perspective on quarantine and isolation that some may find more bearable: rather than passively hiding indoors in fear of the virus, we are taking action to fragment the virus population so that our immune systems (and medical intervention, in more serious cases) can {{w|defeat in detail|defeat it in detail}}. |
This was the at least first comic featuring pathogens as characters. The (at least) second is [[2306: Common Cold]]. | This was the at least first comic featuring pathogens as characters. The (at least) second is [[2306: Common Cold]]. | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | :[A small colony of coccus bacteria, a bacteriophage, and a protozoon | + | {{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} |
+ | |||
+ | :[A small colony of coccus bacteria, a bacteriophage, and a protozoon are floating together.] | ||
:Bacteriophage: I'm worried about humans developing resistance to us. | :Bacteriophage: I'm worried about humans developing resistance to us. | ||
:Bacteriophage: Using pasta. | :Bacteriophage: Using pasta. | ||
− | :[ | + | :[Cutaway to macrophages and antibodies chasing three protozoa. One protozoon is already covered in antibodies.] |
:Bacteriophage (narrating): The human immune system is a nightmare. | :Bacteriophage (narrating): The human immune system is a nightmare. | ||
:Bacteriophage (narrating): It's the worst. | :Bacteriophage (narrating): It's the worst. | ||
:Bacteriophage (narrating): It's the scariest thing in the universe. | :Bacteriophage (narrating): It's the scariest thing in the universe. | ||
− | :Macrophage: ''Who wants a | + | :Macrophage: ''Who wants a HUUGGG'' |
:Antibody-covered protozoon: ''Nooo!'' | :Antibody-covered protozoon: ''Nooo!'' | ||
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:Bacteriophage (narrating): We spread through sex, and suddenly they all had these plastic things. | :Bacteriophage (narrating): We spread through sex, and suddenly they all had these plastic things. | ||
− | :[Depictions of | + | :[Depictions of coronavirus with spikes. Hairbun and Cueball shaking hands, with droplets spraying from both their mouths.] |
:Bacteriophage (narrating): This time, we really thought we had them. | :Bacteriophage (narrating): This time, we really thought we had them. | ||
:Bacteriophage (narrating): One of us got good at transmission through everyday contact. | :Bacteriophage (narrating): One of us got good at transmission through everyday contact. | ||
− | :[A row of | + | :[A row of 4 sets of human lungs, the first with several black dots, the second and third with increasing black parts, the fourth completely filled with black. A graph showing exponential growth.] |
− | :Bacteriophage ( | + | :Bacteriophage (narrating): It was great. We were tearing through lungs, spreading like wildfire. |
− | :Voice | + | :Voice offscreen: Hooray! |
− | :Voice 2 | + | :Voice 2 offscreen: I ''hate'' lungs. |
:[Close-up of bacteriophage "head".] | :[Close-up of bacteriophage "head".] | ||
:Bacteriophage: Then, all of a sudden, humans everywhere just...''stopped''. They stopped working, stopped seeing friends. | :Bacteriophage: Then, all of a sudden, humans everywhere just...''stopped''. They stopped working, stopped seeing friends. | ||
− | :[Megan is sitting on a couch | + | :[Megan is sitting on a couch, watching a flat screen. Cueball is at a sink with a mirror, washing his hands. They are facing away from each other.] |
− | :Voice | + | :Voice offscreen: What are they ''doing''? |
− | : | + | :Voice 2 offscreen: Nothing! |
− | : | + | :Voice 2 offscreen: They're just sitting there in their houses washing their hands. |
− | :[ | + | :[A single human in a empty room, surrounded by fallen droplets. Among the droplets is a coronavirus.] |
:Bacteriophage (narrating): Suddenly humans became dead ends. We tried to jump from one to the next, but there's no one to jump to. | :Bacteriophage (narrating): Suddenly humans became dead ends. We tried to jump from one to the next, but there's no one to jump to. | ||
+ | :Bacteriophage (narrating): We can't escape. | ||
:Coronavirus: Help! | :Coronavirus: Help! | ||
− | |||
− | :[ | + | :[Coronaviruses, encroached on by macrophages and streams of antibodies.] |
:Bacteriophage (narrating): We're trapped in there with those ghastly immune systems. | :Bacteriophage (narrating): We're trapped in there with those ghastly immune systems. | ||
− | :Antibodies: '' | + | :Antibodies: ''IT'S HUUG TIIIIIME'' |
− | :Macrophage | + | :Macrophage: Come here for a HUUUG |
− | :Macrophage | + | :Macrophage: HUUUUGS |
− | :[ | + | :[Coronaviruses covered in antibodies and surrounded by macrophages. Some of the macrophages are devouring viruses. Others contain broken-down remnants.] |
:Bacteriophage (narrating): Even if we win a fight, there's nowhere to go. | :Bacteriophage (narrating): Even if we win a fight, there's nowhere to go. | ||
− | :Macrophage | + | :Macrophage: HUUUUUUUGGSS |
− | :Macrophage | + | :Macrophage: HUUUUGS |
:Bacteriophage (narrating): By staying inside, humans have become resistant. | :Bacteriophage (narrating): By staying inside, humans have become resistant. | ||
− | :[Back to the discussion between the coccus, the bacteriophage and the protozoon | + | :[Back to the discussion between the coccus, the bacteriophage and the protozoon.] |
:Coccus bacteria: How could they evolve that fast? Humans take decades to reproduce! | :Coccus bacteria: How could they evolve that fast? Humans take decades to reproduce! | ||
:Bacteriophage: It's not evolution. It's something with their brains. | :Bacteriophage: It's not evolution. It's something with their brains. | ||
:Protozoon: I ''wondered'' what those were for! | :Protozoon: I ''wondered'' what those were for! | ||
− | :[Bacteriophage pointing | + | :[Bacteriophage pointing to: Cueball and Megan looking at their phones; Megan and Cueball walking to the right; Megan and Cueball at separate sinks washing their hands.] |
:Bacteriophage: Humans started looking at their phones, talking, writing words, and making signs. A human named "Gloria Gaynor" filmed herself singing at her bathroom sink. | :Bacteriophage: Humans started looking at their phones, talking, writing words, and making signs. A human named "Gloria Gaynor" filmed herself singing at her bathroom sink. | ||
:Bacteriophage: And then they bought lots of pasta. | :Bacteriophage: And then they bought lots of pasta. | ||
:Bacteriophage: Then, around the world, they all went home and started washing their hands. | :Bacteriophage: Then, around the world, they all went home and started washing their hands. | ||
− | :[Bacteriophage and protozoon | + | :[Bacteriophage and protozoon.] |
:Bacteriophage: They saw what we were doing and changed their behavior to stop us. | :Bacteriophage: They saw what we were doing and changed their behavior to stop us. | ||
− | :Protozoon: Brains are the | + | :Protozoon: Brains are the ''worst''. |
− | :[Coccus, bacteriophage and protozoon | + | :[Coccus, bacteriophage and protozoon.] |
:Coccus bacteria: It's not over, right? They can't sustain this. They must be bored and tired. | :Coccus bacteria: It's not over, right? They can't sustain this. They must be bored and tired. | ||
:Coccus bacteria: Will they give up? | :Coccus bacteria: Will they give up? | ||
:Bacteriophage: I don't know. They seem determined to protect each other. | :Bacteriophage: I don't know. They seem determined to protect each other. | ||
− | :[Coccus, bacteriophage and protozoon | + | :[Coccus, bacteriophage and protozoon.] |
:Bacteriophage: And | :Bacteriophage: And | ||
− | :Bacteriophage: They have a | + | :Bacteriophage: They have a ''lot'' of pasta. |
==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
* The title text originally contained a typo in the form of a double negative "We're not not trapped..." This has since been corrected. | * The title text originally contained a typo in the form of a double negative "We're not not trapped..." This has since been corrected. | ||
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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[[Category:COVID-19]] | [[Category:COVID-19]] | ||
+ | [[Category:Biology]] | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]] | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairbun]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Hairbun]] | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]] <!-- Gloria Gaynor --> | [[Category:Comics featuring real people]] <!-- Gloria Gaynor --> | ||
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