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NETting Bacteria
08 December 2017

NETting Bacteria

In the battle against infection, the human body has an army of cells ready to fight. But that army can be weakened by alcohol. Alcoholics in particular are more susceptible to sepsis, an infection that can be fatal. Researchers have investigated why in mice. During infection, immune cells called neutrophils release structures called NETs that trap bacteria ready for destruction. The team isolated mouse neutrophils (pictured) exposed them to salt water (left) or alcohol (right) and infected them with bacteria. The alcohol-treated neutrophils weren’t able to release NETs, impairing destruction of the bacteria. The same happened in infected mice, and these detrimental effects could be reduced by increasing levels of a protein called CXCL1 that attracts neutrophils. The next question to answer is whether chronic alcohol abuse has the same effects as sudden exposure to alcohol and whether CXCL1 could be just as useful here.

Written by Lux Fatimathas

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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