Nature’s Nets
This image shows two immune cells known as neutrophils, magnified hundreds of times with a scanning electron microscope. First discovered more than a hundred years ago, they act as the first line of defense in the body, pumping out anti-microbial chemicals and swallowing up bacteria and viruses.
But in 2004, high-powered microscopes revealed a third mode of attack: casting out a deadly net of DNA and protein fibres – shown spewing from the right-hand cell in this image – that catches and disarms invading bugs. Formally known as neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), they form localized ‘cages’ that focus germ-fighting power in a small area and avoid causing damage to neighbouring healthy cells.
Although this is a powerful infection-beating mechanism, it’s not so good for the neutrophil. Because forming a NET requires the cell to throw out all its DNA – containing all the genetic instructions for life – it dies in the process.
Image:
This image is a finalist in the International Images for Science 2016 exhibition, organised by the Royal Photographic Society and supported by Siemens as part of the Curiosity Project
https://rps-science.org/events/International-Images-for-Science/finalists/4965/
Image by Stavros Giaglis
Story via BPoD
#medicine #cells #SEM #neutrophils
Like cnidocytes and bees...
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ReplyDeleteMaybe nano robots could be used to direct these to infections? Although I guess that is built in
These are the blood cells that chemotherapy takes out, causing poor or no immune system function. They watch your blood with frequent tests to watch for these and see if you're going too low. Whether you will or not depends on how your body handles the drugs and what levels you had going in. I think it also depends on the quality of your diet. They hand out sugar juices, coffees and teas with sugar and creamer, cookies. Can I get an apple please? Oh, how about a bit of baby carrots? Nobody there likes that food, huh? Well you see, they aren't getting rich nutrition in those foods. Most of it's been cooked out in processing and much of it never had a lot in the first place. Neutrophils need nutrients the same as any other body cells.
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