OK, so the white blood cell doesn't have eyes, so it's not like it's chasing the bacterium in the same way a dog chases a cat. Moreover, the bacterium doesn't have little Speedy Gonzalez legs to run away on.
So, what's actually happening here? How are these objects moving or appearing to move? What is the mechanism at work here that explains how the white blood cell is appearing to "stay on the hunt," so to speak, like a bloodhound after a bad guy? posted by Cool Papa Bell at 7:31 PM on February 6, 2010
What is the mechanism at work here that explains how the white blood cell is appearing to "stay on the hunt," so to speak, like a bloodhound after a bad guy?
Tiny shoggoth in your bloodstream... posted by Artw at 7:38 PM on February 6, 2010 [2 favorites]
Cool Papa Bell, the process is called chemotaxis. Those links should probably give you enough to go on, for starters. posted by Quietgal at 7:39 PM on February 6, 2010 [3 favorites]
Bork! Bork! Bork! posted by Balisong at 7:48 PM on February 6, 2010
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the bloodstream. posted by Kevin Street at 9:18 PM on February 6, 2010 [2 favorites]
Neato.
It's one thing to read about this sort of thing and try to visualize how it might go down, even with the best medical illustrations, quite another to actually see it in action. Thanks Brandon Blatcher. posted by Zinger at 9:57 PM on February 6, 2010
The bacteria getting eaten sorta look like diplococci - microbiology-speak for paired-up round bacterial cells. If the big phagocyte is a human PMN (polymorphonuclear leukocyte, AKA a neutrophil, our primary bacterial-gobbling shock troops), that'd make the bacterial cells likely to be either Neisseria (n. meningitides, a cause of meningitis, or n. gonorrhoeae, the cause of... guess what?) or Streptococcus pneumoniae. I'd say the latter option would be more likely.
Anybody with a less cursory knowledge of this care to weigh in? posted by killdevil at 11:26 PM on February 6, 2010
The bacteria getting eaten sorta look like diplococci - microbiology-speak for paired-up round bacterial cells. If the big phagocyte is a human PMN (polymorphonuclear leukocyte, AKA a neutrophil, our primary bacterial-gobbling shock troops), that'd make the bacterial cells likely to be either Neisseria (n. meningitides, a cause of meningitis, or n. gonorrhoeae, the cause of... guess what?) or Streptococcus pneumoniae. I'd say the latter option would be more likely.
Anybody with a less cursory knowledge of this care to weigh in?
Go get it, boy! Go get it! Gooooood, White Cell. Gooood boy. posted by Thorzdad at 5:43 AM on February 7, 2010 [3 favorites]
My white blood cells are apparently really, really lazy since I've had bronchitis, sinusitis and an upper respiratory infection within the last 2 months. posted by desjardins at 6:47 AM on February 7, 2010
My white blood cells are apparently really, really lazy since I've had bronchitis, sinusitis and an upper respiratory infection within the last 2 months.
That's what happens. They get a Netflix account and bam! No productivity. posted by Talanvor at 7:58 AM on February 7, 2010
My white blood cells are apparently really, really lazy since I've had bronchitis, sinusitis and an upper respiratory infection within the last 2 months.
As I tell my girlfriend whenever she complains that her immune system is crap because she got sick, "If it wasn't actually pretty stupendously badass, you'd already be dead." posted by adamdschneider at 8:21 AM on February 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
killdevil: The bacteria getting eaten sorta look like diplococci - microbiology-speak for paired-up round bacterial cells. If the big phagocyte is a human PMN (polymorphonuclear leukocyte, AKA a neutrophil, our primary bacterial-gobbling shock troops), that'd make the bacterial cells likely to be either Neisseria (n. meningitides, a cause of meningitis, or n. gonorrhoeae, the cause of... guess what?) or Streptococcus pneumoniae. I'd say the latter option would be more likely.
The YouTube video includes a description. "It is a neutrophil chasing Staphylococcus aureus." Apparently the video was taken from a 16-mm film created in the 1950s by David Rogers, at Vanderbilt University. posted by russilwvong at 9:55 PM on February 7, 2010
Interesting. Staph are also round, but they're supposed to be clustered up like a bunch of grapes. Ah well, I was close. posted by killdevil at 5:27 PM on February 8, 2010
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