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Dear Doctor: What Is The Difference Between A Viral And Bacterial ...

DEAR DR. ROACH: I watched a show that described how a virus invades a cell and found it fascinating. What is the difference between a virus and a bacterial infection? -- G.D.

ANSWER: Viral infections start by using a cell receptor to gain entry into the cell. This receptor depends on the virus; for example, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID) uses the ACE2 receptor to get into the cell, while HIV uses a different receptor called CD4.

Once the virus is in the cell, it inserts its own genetic material into the cellular machinery, causing the cell to make a virus rather than do the job it's supposed to do until it ultimately dies. Viruses cannot replicate by themselves; they need a host to do so. The viral infection may kill its host if it destroys enough of the host cells.

The body can get rid of the virus by recognizing and killing its own cells that have been taken over by the virus. (That's the job of the cytotoxic T cells.) It also neutralizes the virus through antibodies (the job of the B cells, helped out by T cells). Sometimes a balance is reached, and a chronic viral infection ensues. Doctors use antiviral drugs to help with viral infections.

A bacterial infection, by contrast, uses the host body as a source of nutrients. Because bacterial cells grow so fast, they outcompete the host cells for sugar, oxygen and other critical nutrients. The bacteria can kill the host by using up resources and can also make toxic substances that damage the body. The body has granulocytes, macrophages and antibody-making B cells to help fight bacteria. Although there are chronic bacterial infections, usually one side or the other ends up "winning."

Doctors help the body fight bacterial infections with antibiotics. The body's robust inflammatory response, although necessary, sometimes causes as much or even more trouble than the infection, and one way we can help the body is by toning down its response to some critical infections.

There are vaccines for many bacterial and viral diseases. The vaccines "teach" the body what to look out for so that an infection can be responded to much more quickly by the full array of the body's defenses.

DEAR DR. ROACH: Is it safe to take a sleep aid in the evening? I normally do not have a problem falling asleep, but I often wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. So, at times, I take half of a gummy containing melatonin and chamomile, and I'm able to get a few more hours of sleep. Is this safe?

ANSWER: While it's best not to take sleep medicines at all (cognitive behavioral therapy remains the most effective and least dangerous treatment, although it isn't accessible to everyone), chamomile and melatonin are pretty safe. It certainly doesn't work for everyone, but if it is working for you, it's not a bad option.

During very stressful periods of my life (like medical school), chamomile tea did help me fall asleep, and it is safe, except that it can occasionally interfere with some medications, including anti-seizure medicines and sedatives.

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.Cornell.Edu or send mail to 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803.

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Breakthrough MRNA Vaccine Shows 100% Effectiveness Against Deadly Bacteria

Dr. Edo Kon (left) and Prof. Dan Peer created the first mRNA vaccine effective against bacteria, marking a significant advance against antibiotic-resistant infections worldwide. (CREDIT: Tel Aviv University)

Scientists at Tel Aviv University and the Israel Institute for Biological Research have developed the first mRNA vaccine proven completely effective against deadly bacteria. This groundbreaking research may soon change how bacterial infections, especially antibiotic-resistant ones, are fought globally.

Breaking New Ground

Until now, you probably heard that mRNA vaccines, like those developed for COVID-19, worked well against viruses. Researchers believed mRNA vaccines couldn't combat bacterial infections due to fundamental biological differences.

Viruses rely on human cells to reproduce, making it simpler to mimic their proteins. However, bacteria operate independently, making vaccine development more complicated.

Dr. Edo Kon working on the world's first mRNA vaccine for bacteria at Tel Aviv University. (CREDIT: Tel Aviv University)

Dr. Edo Kon, who led the research with Prof. Dan Peer at Tel Aviv University, explained the challenge: "Viruses produce their proteins inside our cells, so lab-made viral mRNA easily matches these proteins. But bacteria produce proteins independently. Even identical genetic sequences lead to different protein structures in human cells compared to bacterial cells."

Overcoming Biological Obstacles

Previous attempts at creating bacterial mRNA vaccines had little success because bacterial proteins synthesized in human cells differed significantly. Changes like sugar additions weakened the immune response, making these proteins ineffective vaccine candidates.

The research team tackled this issue head-on with two innovations. First, they bypassed the standard cellular secretion methods that cause problematic protein modifications. By skipping this typical pathway, the immune system accurately recognized the proteins as genuine bacterial threats.

New Surgical Technology Can 'light Up' Bacteria In Wounds, Helping ...

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Up to 5% of people who have surgery can develop an infection — which can prolong healing and lead to dangerous complications, studies have shown.

Additionally, chronic wounds affect around 6.5 million patients in the U.S.

Some bacteria can't be seen with the human eye, which means they may be missed by physicians when cleaning a wound.

Now, a new medical technology that uses fluorescent light has shown to be effective in detecting missed bacteria, according to new research led by University of Southern California, Los Angeles (USC).

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In a review of 26 medical studies, a handheld device using autofluorescence (AF) imaging successfully "lit up" bacteria in nine out of 10 wounds, with each different type of bacteria turning a different color, according to a press release from USC.

The findings were published recently in the medical journal Advances in Wound Care.

A new medical technology that uses fluorescent light has shown to be effective in detecting missed bacteria. (iStock)

Real-time detection

In traditional cases, surgeons take tissue samples from wounds and send them to a lab for testing to determine the types of bacteria that are present, the researchers noted.

It can take days to get the results, during which time infection can set in.

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"Bacteria can cause wounds to become infected when they enter and colonize the cut or wound," Dr. Raj Dasgupta, pulmonary and critical care specialist at Huntington Health in Los Angeles, told Fox News Digital.

"If a person does not receive treatment for a wound infection, the infection can spread to other parts of the body, which may lead to serious complications." (Dasgupta was not involved in the new study.)

In a review of 26 medical studies, a handheld device using autofluorescence imaging successfully "lit up" bacteria in nine out of 10 wounds. (iStock)

The lighting technology allows clinicians to see bacteria in real time, leading to more targeted and effective wound care, according to the study researchers.

"Fluorescence imaging, particularly with devices like MolecuLight, offers a significant advancement in the ability to detect bacterial loads in chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers," lead study author Dr. David G. Armstrong, professor of neurological surgery and director of the USC Limb Preservation Program, told Fox News Digital.

"If a person does not receive treatment for a wound infection, the infection can spread to other parts of the body, which may lead to serious complications."

It could also help prevent the need for antibiotics, as the bacteria can be removed before infection occurs.

"The study also explores the potential of wearable fluorescence imaging devices, which could further revolutionize surgical debridement by providing continuous visualization during the procedure," Armstrong added.

The lighting technology allows clinicians to see bacteria in real time, leading to more targeted and effective wound care, according to the study researchers. (iStock)

One of the most surprising discoveries in the study was that high amounts of bacteria didn't always cause symptoms, but still slowed down the healing process, the researchers stated.

This highlighted the need for "more sophisticated diagnostic tools" in wound management.

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"The big idea here is that we might be able to get out in front of an infection before having to give someone antibiotics," said Armstrong. "This is the ultimate kind of stewardship to promote superbugs."

Based on this study, Armstrong recommends that clinicians consider integrating fluorescence imaging into their standard wound care protocols, especially for chronic wounds like diabetic foot ulcers.

"The big idea here is that we might be able to get out in front of an infection before having to give someone antibiotics."

"This technology not only improves the accuracy of debridement, but also aids in early intervention, potentially reducing the risk of complications like infections and amputations," he told Fox News Digital.

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"We also recommend that health care providers stay informed about advancements in wearable imaging technologies, which may soon provide even greater flexibility and precision in wound care."

Fluorescence may not replace lab testing, surgeon says

Dr. Patrick Davis, a facial plastic surgeon at Davis Facial Plastics in Beverly Hills, California, emphasized the importance of preventing bacterial infections — especially for revision rhinoplasties, which he said have a higher risk of this type of complication.

"There has been modest research with the use of fluorescence to illuminate a particular wound bed," Davis, who was not involved in the new study, told Fox News Digital.

"The idea is that certain bacteria will emit a certain wavelength of light. Staph infections, for example, would emit a different color than another type of bacteria."

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This can be helpful in confirming what kind of antibiotic to use for treatment, Davis noted, while also telling the surgeon the "burden of bacteria," which indicates the level of bacteria in the wound.

The use of this technology still needs more research, according to the surgeon.

The technology could help prevent the need for antibiotics, as the bacteria can be removed before infection occurs. (iStock)

"At this time, this technology would not replace a simple swab of the area and then a laboratory test determining exactly what type of bacteria is present and what antibiotic to use," he said.

"However, this technology can give a real-time hint at the family of bacteria that is present, although it may not be so specific — that is still reserved for a laboratory to determine."

Dasgupta agreed that this device could be a "safe, effective, accurate and easy-to-use tool" to improve the assessment of wounds, but he noted that fluorescent light imaging has some limitations when used to detect bacterial infections.

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"The evaluation is limited to bacteria that produce fluorescent molecules on the skin's surface and subsurface," Dasgupta told Fox News Digital.

"The detection ability is also dependent on the number of bacteria present in the wound," he went on. "Also, wound depth cannot be captured with this type of evaluation."

Study limitations

The primary limitation of this study is that it depended on "controlled lighting conditions" in order for the fluorescence imaging devices to function accurately, Armstrong noted.

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"This could be a challenge in certain clinical settings, particularly in real-time surgical environments," he said.

Chronic wounds affect around 6.5 million patients in the U.S.

More research is also needed to confirm the effectiveness of wearable devices compared to the existing handheld devices.

The study is partially funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and the National Science Foundation's Center to Stream Healthcare in Place.

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