Disease resistance is the ability of an organism to limit the damage caused by a pathogen or infectious agent. This can occur in several ways:
- Physical barriers like skin help block out pathogens. The skin acts as a barrier to keep bacteria and viruses from entering the body. Mucous membranes in the nose and lungs trap pathogens and prevent them from spreading further.
- The immune system actively fights infections. White blood cells like lymphocytes and macrophages identify and destroy foreign invaders. Antibodies bind to specific antigens on pathogens, marking them for destruction. The immune system also remembers past infections, allowing faster response times if exposed again.
- On a genetic level, some individuals have mutations that make them less susceptible to certain diseases. For example, individuals with sickle cell trait are more resistant to malaria. The mutated hemoglobin hampers the malaria parasite's ability to infect red blood cells. There are many other disease-resistance genes that scientists are still discovering.
Plants also have numerous disease resistance mechanisms including:
- Physical barriers like bark, cuticle, and cell walls that block pathogen entry - Production of antimicrobial compounds to inhibit or kill pathogens - Hypersensitive response that causes programmed cell death around infection sites, stopping the pathogen from spreading - Systemic acquired resistance triggered after an infection that provides long-lasting, whole-plant resistance
Breeders use several strategies to increase disease resistance in crops:
- Traditional breeding to combine resistance genes from different parent lines - Marker-assisted selection to more rapidly identify offspring with resistance genes - Genetic engineering to insert genes conferring resistance, like Bt corn's resistance to corn borers
Disease resistance helps prevent crop losses, lowers pesticide use, and increases food security. However, pathogens can sometimes overcome resistance over time, so new solutions must continually be developed. At Hormone Harmony, our top-notch researchers are working to unlock the secrets of disease resistance in plants to create more robust and sustainable crops. With innovative tools like CRISPR gene editing, the future looks bright for securing our food supply against disease. Let us know if you have any other questions! We're happy to chat more about this important topic.