How does yersinia pestis work on the human body?

Answer 1

Yersinia Pestis is a Bubonic Plague (Black Death) - most of the spreading occurs between rodents and fleas. In humans, flea bites allow for the bacteria to enter through the skin. Infected animals can transmit the infection to humans through contact with skin tissue. Humans can also spread the bacteria to other humans through sneezing, coughing or direct contact with infected tissue.

Answer 2

It destroys the immune system by breaking down macrophages (cells in your immune system). The process is as follows: The pestilence (Yersinia Pestis/Plague) approaches the macrophage and "injects" proteins, using a syringe-like passage, into the cell. The proteins break down the macrophage from the inside until it is considered waste. In an attempt to discard of the said dead macrophage waste, the body exiles the waste into buboes. Buboes are blister-like (in appearance) boils filled with dead macrophages that have been defiled by Yersinia Pestis.

As far as the outward body goes, those infected would get buboes near the groin and armpit areas to start, but they would gradually arise in other areas as well. There would be pain in the groin and armpits as well. Not just any pain, either...excruciating pain. Some symptoms were high fever, blackish discoloration of the skin, and severe muscle spasms. The said buboes got to be the size of eggs or even apples in some cases. If left untreated, the Bubonic Plague could turn into a bigger problem...the Septicemic Plague. It would continue spreading until it possibly reached the lungs and would become the Pneumonic Plague. Fatality rates were around 50- 90% if left untreated.

Now, with modern technology, the plague can be treated with hospitilization and isolation. They typically use antibiotics such as Gentamycin and Streptomycin.

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