Geneviève Héry-Arnaud, microbiologist and Senior lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine in Brest, responds with great simplicity and wisdom to the question posed by Méline, 7 years old: "If our white blood cells are here to protect us from microbes, why do we still get sick?" Here is the response from our microbiology expert: White blood cells play a crucial role in our immune system by combating microbes that attempt to make us ill. "A white blood cell is a bit like a small soldier in our body that ensures we don't catch nasty microbes." However, some microbes are particularly resistant and manage to evade this defense. "It turns out that some microbes are super strong and have developed special protection, like a kind of capsule that allows them to escape the attack of white blood cells." This invisible armor prevents the immune system from neutralizing them effectively. A battle where microbes act as spies Other microbes adopt an even more cunning tactic: camouflage. "They will change their appearance, disguise themselves, and as a result, white blood cells won't recognize that they are nasty microbes." By masquerading as harmless elements of the body, they deceive the vigilance of the immune defenses. Some even go so far as to hide within the body's cells to escape detection. "They play hide and seek with white blood cells and go hide inside other cells." When defenses are overwhelmed It also happens that the white blood cells themselves are weakened. "Sometimes, the little leukocytes are very tired or a bit sick, so they are much less effective in helping you get rid of the nasty microbe." Moreover, in the case of a massive infection, they can simply be overwhelmed. "When there are too many microbes, white blood cells are completely overwhelmed and not numerous enough to fight against the bad microbes." #ImmuneSystem #WhiteBloodCells #ImmuneDefenses #NaturalProtection #CombatMicrobes #MicrobialResistance #Immunity #BodyDefense #CunningMicrobes #Infection #NaturalHealth #StrengthenImmunity #MicrobialTactics #HealthAndPrevention #ImmuneVigilance @Genevieve_Hery radiofrance.fr/franceinter/p…