Be Careful with Biological Compounds!
Oleh : Dr. Ir. Sri Priatni
Loka Penelitian Teknologi Bersih
Similar to chemical compounds, biological compounds are predominantly used in food industry, pharmacy, microbiology laboratory, etc. Biological compounds include microscopic bacteria, yeast, molds including algae yeast or protozoa and also virus and prions (super tiny protein particles) and cell culture. Generally, biological compounds are less harmful, non-pathogenic and do not affect healthy individual. The use of pathogenic compound is strictly limited and occasional, such as in basic research conducted in the hospitals, universities, research centers or industries.
Biological Compound Infection
The concept of disease transmittance through biological compound is clearly unraveled by Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch. This information is currently developed as a safety standard to eliminate the risk of danger due to accidents and disease transmittance in laboratories. The danger lever of a biological compound is defined by several parameters. The first one, infectivity, which refers to the ability of pathogen to thrust into the body immune system and continuously grow inside it. The growth might be hindered at some organs or might remain active in the whole body. The second one is pathogenicity and virulence. Pathogens stimulate a disease as they grow inside the body. Biological compounds such as bacteria, molds and protozoa enter the system via a specific pathway and will grow with the nutrients supply from the host. On the contrary, virus utilizes its bio-synthesis ability and reproduction system of the host organism.
Pathogenicity occurs as a result of synergistic roles from pathogens and the body serving as a host. One particular biological compound may be pathogenic to one species but non-pathogenic to others. For instance, there are numbers of biological compounds pathogenic to animals and plants but non-pathogenic to human.
One instance of pathogenic biological compounds is Mycobacterium tuberculosis which causes severe tuberculosis in human transmitted through air. Despite its structure as a single cell, M. tuberculosis can proliferate inside the lung and cause terrible chronic disease. Another instance is hepatitis B virus infecting and deteriorating liver cells. Additional instance is Plasmodium Falfciparum, a kind of protozoa transmitted by Anopheles mosquitos causing deadly malaria.
The pathogenicity of biological compounds determines the severity of the disease. The ability of a pathogenic organism to assault the host’s cell is called as virulence. Virulence is directed by infectivity and toxic products released by a biological compound.
The ability to form toxicants: the symptom of a disease such as tetanus and diphtheria is not only produced by the biological compound activity inside the body but also intoxication through chemical compounds. The toxic is specifically excreted under a certain condition (exotoxin or endotoxin). Salmonelloses (typhoid, paratyphoid, etc) were caused by a variety of species from Salmonella genus. There are more than 1000 serotypes of Salmonella enteric which excrete toxin causing diarrhea and fever. Some of the biological compounds are unable to grow inside human body, but are able to produce toxic outside the human body, and therefore are safe during human digestion process.
The third one, allergenicity which refers to the ability of biological compounds such as enzymes, proteins and antibiotics in forming allergens. Allergy symptom appears when allergens have contact with skin or mucous membrane. Allergens sensitivity and allergy resistance are different in every individual. At some extents, allergens can cause death. In respiratory tract, Cladosporum herbarum can cause asthma and alveolitis. Other species such as from the genus of Rhodotorula is prevalently linked with cough, fever and muscular disorder. A frequent allergy may result in high risk of infection. Furthermore, it is highly noted that permanent irritation on the mucous membrane is produced by biological compounds.
Pathogens transmittance
Pathogen can be transmitted through different media such as soil, air, water, and other organism. Pathogenic compounds can easily penetrate the body through an open wound via direct contact with skin or mucous membrane and respiratory or digestion tract in the form of dusty particles, drops and insect bites. In laboratory cycle, pathogens can be transmitted by aerosol and biology materials. For instance, from blood sample as infection source.
The first stage of infection involves biological compounds penetration into the body through holey parts such as eyes, nose and mouth. Additionally, skin can also serve as a good transmitter too. Skin is fundamentally protecting the body system, yet, with the presence of wound, even though a small one, infection can easily occur. Therefore, nail clipping or any direct contacts with organic solvents or acids can damage the skin and stimulate infection.
Vaccination
Human body is endowed with a natural protection system towards infection. The body protects itself from infection by a physical defender such as skin layers or basal temperature increment. Sweat excretion or excretion of any acid liquid from the body holds the function of inactivation and chemical protection by the body.
Immunological protection takes place when biological compounds get into the body and is signaled as a foreign matter. Biochemical system in the cell plays a role as memory system on cell’s surface structure and hence, when infection happens, a fast immune response consequently generated.
This underlying mechanism is the basic of active vaccination. Immunity is produced by a triggered infection which is unknown, or from vaccination. Vaccination is a powerful tool to improve immunity. Re-vaccination must be done to produce sufficient antibodies to tackle infection.***
Published on Pikiran Rakyat Newspaper
Thursday, 23rd November 2006