Chronic infections from the perspective of evolution: a hypothesis

No satisfactory explanation has so far been given for the persistence in the body sometimes, of various microorganisms — bacteria, parasites, fungi and viruses — in spite of their foreign antigens and a competent immune system. It has been proposed as an explanation that these microorganisms, in the course of evolution, have concealed their true antigens from the immune system. Free living microorganisms concealed their true antigens when the heat of the sun, with the threat of dehydration, induced the development in surviving mutants of a lipid coat to reduce surface water losses. This coat enveloped the microorganisms, concealing their true antigens. Viruses that cause chronic infections concealed their true antigens beneath a viral envelope derived from host cell. Exposing the true antigens on microorganisms and viruses with suitable lipid solvents and re-introducing the microorganisms and viruses so treated into the host as a kind of vaccine, should provoke a new immune response effective in eliminating the pathogens concerned from the body and in preventing future infections. In this way, pathogens could be used to treat and prevent certain infectious diseases. The above procedure should have significant benefits for human and animal health.