Viral attacks on the human body... HELP.

[bthorne]

so i need to know these two questions:

1) what are the three basic defense levels the human body has towards a viral attack

2) What are other ways you can avoid the chance of contracting a viral disease?

Somebody help please?

[mith]

2. avoid viruses.

[JackBean]

mith: good one

1. antibodies, mutation of receptors?

[biohazard]

1. I think skin works for preventing viral entry just as it does with bacteria, but mucous membranes aren't as good preventing viral infections as they are against bacterial ones. The main tool against viral infections is the adaptive immune response, which you can divide into humoral one (antibody-mediated) and cellular (in viral infections, CD8+ lymphocytes and natural killer cells are crucial).

2. Avoiding viruses (i.e. other people) is efficient! This could be achieved e.g. by simply staying away from crowded places, using protection (condom, biohazard suit depending on the situation ;)), vaccination (well, you can contract the virus, but it gets killed), washing hands (efficient with flu etc).