First video showing immune system attack on bacteria

Scientists in London have succeeded for the first time ever in recording on a short film our immune system in action. The footage shows immune system cells wreaking havoc on intruders while leaving its own cells intact.

To kill bacteria in the blood, our immune system relies on natural nanomachines, whichóre can kill bacteria. Researchers at University College London managed to film these nanomachines in action, revealing key mechanisms of the human immune system. The recording helps to better understand howób our bodies defend themselves against bacteria, why our own comórks come out of the attack intact and what exactly this process looks like.

Research by London scientistsów could lead to the development of new therapies thatóre use the immune system against bacterial infections. Based on them, there may be róalso new strategies, whichóre reverseóc the action of the immune system and direct it at least against comótumor rcom.

The results of the research were published in the journal „Nature Communications”.

In an earlier study, researchers illustrated the effects of the immune system’s attack on bacteria. They have shown that the immune system response causes something like the following „bullet holes”, More specifically, incredibly small holesów – as small as 10 nanometers in diameterów – In the bacterial envelope, the layer that surrounds the outer wall of the comórk of bacteria.

In this study, scientists próThey mimicked the actions of the immune system. They wanted to produce a similar „bullet holes” using a model bacterial surface and the Membrane Attack Complex (MAC). By following each step of the process, they discovered that the wkrótce after tiny holes form, the process dies down. Researchers believe this is the time for their own comórek so that these can protect themselves.

– It seems that these nanomachines wait a while, allowing the potential victim to intervene, in case it turns out to be one of their own comórek. Only after a while is it killedójczy blow,” explained Dr. Edward Parsons of University College London.

Syndromeół says the process stops because it takes 18 copies of the same protein to make a hole. Initially there is only one copy, whichóra penetrates the bacterial envelope, after which the rest of the copy is formed.

– This insertion of the first protein of the membrane attack complex is a kind of brake on the killing process. Interestingly, this prevents holes in our own healthy comórkach, leaving them in this wayób undamaged,” said Prof. Bart Hoogenboom róAlso from UCL.

To film the workings of the immune system at nanometer resolution, the researchers used atomic force microscopy.