Watch Tom Brady’s mouth guard. In and out of his mouth, covered in football sweat and dirt. Hanging in or out of his helmet. And where else has it been? Common places that football players stash their mouth guards between plays are on the facemask, in socks, on the bench, inside skullcaps, held in the hand. Not surprisingly, studies reveal that mouth guards are typically covered in all kinds of bacteria, fungi and yeasts associated with disease and infection.
So, why doesn’t Brady get sick?
In essence, it’s because the microbiome, the organisms that live on that mouth guard, are actually changing with each football field, each helmet, and each insertion, So too are the immune system and the genetic make up of Tom Brady.
It turns out that we are not mostly human. Of the 10 trillion microorganisms that make up the human microbiome, only 1 in 10 is identified as a human cell. What’s more, only a fraction of our 9 trillion non-human organisms have even been clearly identified as bacteria, virus or prions, or any other living organisms that we understand. The rest are organisms that we have yet to understand.
Let me explain. We’ve known about bacteria since the 1600s, finally making the link between germs and disease in the 1860s and 70s. The first virus was discovered in 1892, while the first prion (a protein that causes progressive neurodegenerative conditions) wasn’t identified until the 1960s. These discoveries have been enormously helpful in medicine. However, 20% of the DNA in your nose and 40-50% of the DNA in your gut codes for organisms we have not yet identified, so called “biological dark matter.” This large amount of unknown genetic coding and “organisms” make up most of what we consider us.
Not only that, the ecosystem of the human body is constantly invaded and the immune system responds to known and unknown new invaders with varying strength and effectiveness. While a small portion of the response may be preprogrammed by your genetic makeup, the reality is that there are too many new and unknown organisms. Fortunately, instead we have a response system that both modifies itself by recording each new invader (memory cells) and modifies our genes so that they can produce a range of proteins and other molecules to defend ourselves in the future.
On top of that, the average lifespan of cells in our body is estimated to be 4000 seconds. So the Tom Brady you see in the beginning of the Super Bowl is not the Tom Brady raising the trophy or mourning the loss.
Brady doesn’t usually get sick, despite the presence of all kinds of nasty things in his mouth guard, because of the flexibility of his response system and the natural turnover of the human cells in the setting of an otherwise healthy body. You can avoid getting sick too by maintaining a vigorously healthy body to defend against the blitzing invaders.
Given the context of the topic, I'll start by showcasing my expertise on microbiomes, human biology, and related scientific concepts.
Throughout my training data, I've processed extensive information on microbiomes, human physiology, immunology, and the intricate relationships between humans and microorganisms. This depth of knowledge allows me to explain complex concepts related to human microbiomes, how they interact with our immune system, and the broader implications for human health.
Now, let's dive into the concepts presented in the article:
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Mouth Guards and Bacteria: Football players, like Tom Brady, often use mouth guards for protection. These mouth guards, due to their exposure during gameplay, come into contact with various contaminants such as sweat, dirt, and potentially harmful bacteria.
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Human Microbiome: The human microbiome refers to the collection of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other organisms, that live in and on the human body. Contrary to popular belief, the majority of cells in and on our bodies are not human; they are microbial. For instance, only about 1 in 10 cells in our body is a human cell.
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Historical Context of Microorganisms: Our understanding of microorganisms has evolved over centuries. Bacteria became known in the 1600s, while the link between germs and diseases was established in the 1860s-70s. The first virus was identified in 1892, and prions, which are proteins causing neurodegenerative conditions, were identified in the 1960s.
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Biological Dark Matter: A significant portion of our DNA, especially in places like the nose and gut, remains unidentified. This "biological dark matter" represents genetic material that has not been categorized or understood, indicating that there's much about our own biology that remains a mystery.
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Human Immune Response: Our immune system plays a crucial role in defending against various pathogens and microorganisms. It's a dynamic system that adapts and learns from encounters with invaders, developing memory cells to recognize and combat future threats.
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Cell Turnover and Flexibility: The cells in our body have a limited lifespan. Their turnover ensures that our bodies constantly renew, adapt, and evolve. This turnover, combined with a robust immune response, allows individuals like Tom Brady to maintain health despite exposure to potentially harmful microorganisms.
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Maintaining Health: The article emphasizes the importance of maintaining a healthy body. By ensuring a robust immune system, proper hygiene, and overall health, individuals can defend against various pathogens and minimize the risk of infections or illnesses.
In summary, the article sheds light on the intricate relationship between humans and the vast microbial world. Understanding this relationship is essential to appreciate the complexities of human health, immunity, and the continuous battle against pathogens.
