Human vs Orchid Disases?

[DebsC]

Do humans get/have the same types of bacterial rots and disease that orchids get.

Obviously, we don't get root rot, well most of us don't. But do we get the same bacteria that causes root rot? Maybe in a different place on our bodies?

[littlefrog]

Short answer is no. Long answer takes longer. A medium answer would be that pathogens and hosts evolve together, pathogens exploit certain aspects of the host, and the host develops resistance to the pathogen. When you think about it, it takes a different set of tools to infect a plant.

Also, humans have immune systems, which plants do not have in any real sense of the word. The major benefit of which is that while it is remotely conceivable that a plant pathogen could infect a mammalian cell, even if it did your immune system would react aggressively to clear it. But not likely to be necessary.

Now, humans and plants could have pathogens which share some characteristics, for example plants get fungal pathogens and humans get fungal pathogens. But those pathogens are most likely to be fairly distantly related to one another. So, worry about cross contaminating your plants by handling infected materials, and wash your hands. But you are washing your hands to protect the plants, not so much yourself.

[Swamper]

when I was a kid someone told me I was rotten to the core, I never understood what they meant, that's a little like root rot maybe?

[priz_m]

Originally Posted by Swamper

when I was a kid someone told me I was rotten to the core, I never understood what they meant, that's a little like root rot maybe?

to the core? wouldn't that be crown rot?

[Gin]

Or maybe bulb rot ?

[Swamper]

, not the bulb rot, that sounds smelly

[snow]

maybe you just drank too much.

[DebsC]

Children!!! Children!!! I can't leave ya'll alone for a minute! I know it's the holidays but lets try to stay on subject here!

Let me explain why I asked the question that I asked.

Sometimes I use triple antibiotic ointment on a cut if the leaf of an orchid has been cut off due to bacterial problems.

The question is, does this or [I]could[I] this practice contribute to antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria in people?

See, I really did have a legitimate question.

[calvin_orchidL]

LOL this thread is so funny.

Debs - no you cannot. You may select for antibiotic resistance in the orchid bacteria, but that will not make them mutate into human-infecting bacteria.

[cb977]

LOL...Swamper, you stepped right into that one!

You guys (and gals ) are too funny!