Don't worry, be happy to fight off bacteria
Published on 08 April, 2009
You have to be happy and healthy to keep disease-causing bacteria at bay and the latest Research Unplugged session will help participants understand how important these factors are...
Dr John McGrath from the Capricornia Centre for Mucosal Immunology at CQUniversity will explain that we live in a delicate balance with microbes, during his presentation entitled Bacterial wars: the ‘fight' for physical, nutritional and mental health'? .
The informal discussion-based event will be held from 6pm-7pm on Thursday, April 23, at Rockhampton's Criterion Hotel (Parkers Function Room). Entry is free.
"There are 10 times more bacteria than human cells in the body," he says.
"Fighting off disease-causing bacteria is a process that goes on every second of our lives. This fight is 2-pronged. Firstly, and absolutely key to our existence, bacterial numbers are kept in check by both competing bacteria in grand ‘bacterial wars'.
"Secondly, our immune system prevents infections from spreading. The immune system uses an enormous amount of energy to do this, which is why for it to do its job as best as possible, you need to be relatively healthy - nutritionally (eating well), mentally (happy) and physically (exercising).
"This talk will contextualise the importance of these key elements of health in terms of protection against infectious disease, in particular bacterial respiratory diseases, the research area of CQUniversity's Mucosal Immunology research group."
The Institute for Health and Social Science Research (IHSSR) (previously Healthy Communities and the Centre for Social Science Research) invites all interested people to participate in the first of its Research Unplugged sessions for 2009. A selection of finger foods will be provided.
As space is limited and to aid with catering, please RSVP to Dr James Douglas (j.douglas@cqu.edu.au or 4930 9371) by Monday, April 20.