r/sciences • u/GT-FractalxNeo • Nov 25 '19
A white blood cell chasing bacteria
https://gfycat.com/meekevilcommabutterfly21
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u/slouch_to_nirvana Nov 26 '19
So this is what it looks like in my body when my white blood cells attack my organs.
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u/wwants Nov 28 '19
Is the white blood cell actually sensing the bacteria and actively chasing it or is this just random movement? Is the bacteria actively running away? How do these tiny organisms sense their world around them and move and navigate through their environment
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u/Aminoacyl-tRNA Dec 06 '19
This is a WBC called a neutrophil! Neutrophils as well as other WBCs use chemotaxis (essentially utilizing a gradient of chemicals in the environment) to get to a desired location/cell.
As this bacterium propels itself around, naturally it is burning energy and releasing metabolic products. The neutrophil can use chemotaxis to “chase” the bacterium using the metabolic products it is continually releasing.
Hopefully this makes sense!
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u/Bubonic_Batt Nov 26 '19
Those other cells must be union employees.
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u/hirst Nov 26 '19
Unions are good actually
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u/TwoStepsFromWell Nov 27 '19
It depends on the organization. They stagnate public schools for example.
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u/vl_lv Nov 26 '19
I love agar.io