Commentary - (2017) Volume 11, Issue 3
Seun Ayoade*
Department of Physiology, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Received Date: June 14, 2017; Accepted Date: June 21, 2017; Published Date: June 28, 2017
Citation: Ayoade S. Thalassemias Validate Germ Terrain Duality of Malaria. Health Sci J 2017, 11: 3.
Copyright: © 2017 Ayoade S. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the creative Commons attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Introduction
The Germ-Terrain duality theory of disease states that the etiology of certain diseases/diseased states is better explained as a complex interplay between germs and the inherent anatomical/physiological integrity of the body cells [1,2].
It argues that the etiology of certain diseases is not fully explained merely by the presence of germs (Germ Theory) or by a mere loss of cellular integrity (Terrain Theory) [1,2].
As a result the prevention and treatment of such diseases should focus not just on fighting germs but on maintaining/ restoring the anatomical/physiological cellular integrity.
The Germ-Terrain duality theory is a harmonization of the current Germ Theory (popularized by Loius Pasteur) and the hitherto discarded Terrain Theory (popularized by Pierre Bechamp) [1,2].
Thalassemias [3-5] reduce the size and/or change the shape of red blood cells thus hindering and limiting the activity of plasmodium [6-10].
There is a need for competent scientists to create an index of the relative resistances of abnormal haemoglobins (obviously with HbS as the standard) to malaria so that we may come to a fuller understanding of the germ terrain duality of malaria-and hopefully of other diseases as well [11-15].
Normal haemoglobin (Hb A) provides no resistance to malaria [16]. This proves the germ terrain duality nature of malaria.
I repeat, in the light of the above, it is suggested that since there are several other (hundreds) [17-21] abnormal haemoglobins it will be appreciated if competent professionals study their effects or lack thereof vis-à-vis resistance to malaria so that we can come to a greater understanding of the germ-terrain duality nature of this malady.
Already work has been done on utilizing foetal haemoglobin to better understand and treat sickle cell anaemia.
If more work is done with the other abnormal haemoglobins it is not impossible that very effective therapies against sickle cell diseases could be developed which could make the disease a thing of the past.
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