Odin and Zeus travel to the outermost reaches of our galaxy

Odin and Zeus travel to the outermost reaches of our galaxy using warp drive spaceship searching for other forms of life. They make contact with highly advanced civilization on planet X329. However, while trying to land at a guided landing site, they are exposed to high energy gamma rays which produces defects in their classical complement and some cytokine genes, and obliterates monocyte mactrophages, and granulocytes. Their mission mandates staying with their friends for three days and then journey back to earth. The trip back to Earth will take between 6-7 days. Will Odin and Zeus survive meeting their new friends on planet X329? If so what immune mechanisms will help their survival?

Solution

In the present case, Odin and Zeus are exposed to high energy gamma radiations. Gamma rays are highly penetrating, and can cause genetic damage leading to detrimental effects. Its ionizing energy breaks up bonds of genetci material. In the case presented here, gamma rays have caused defects in classical complement system and also the cytokine genes. Classical complement is the term given group of more than 30 serum proteins that enhance the ability to produce antibodies and phagocytic cells, that are critically important in our defense against infections. Similarly, cytokines which include chemokines, interferons, interleukins, lymphokines and TNFs etc are small proteins involved in autocrine signalling, paracrine signalling and endocrine signalling, acting as immunomodulating agents.Thus defects produced by gammma radiations in phagocytic cells, classical complement, cytokines, cytokine receptors or in molecules that mediate effector responses might lead to various immunodeficiency diseases. Also, the individuals have suffered from obliteration of monocyte, macrophages, and granulocytes due to gamma rays exposure. Thus they have practically no defence against (no cells to eat up) cellular debris, foreign substances, microbes, cancer cells.

In such cases of severe exposure and damage, immediate medical aid is required. Delay of 6-7 days (as per the given mission mandate) could be fatal for the individuals exposed, especially in case of acute exposure to ioninzing radiations. Odin and Zeus may not survive for meeting their new friends on planet X329 without emergency medical help, change of clothes and radioprotecive drugs.