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These Streptococci Kill White Blood Cells
Although a neutrophil can kill this bead-like string of Streptococcus pyogenes, this particular strain of bacteria expresses streptolysin-s on its surface which kills the white cell through necrosis, a death in which the cell swells and eventually bursts. The white cell's lytic granules (lysosomes), which are supposed to fire their antibacterial contents onto the surface of the bacteria, are emptied into the white cell's cytoplasm instead, adding to the necrotic death. The granule contents also leak out of the cell through the damaged cell membrane releasing inflammatory products. Necrosis is very different from the more controlled cell death called apoptosis.
This clip may be purchased for classroom use as one of seven clips in the "Immune System Collection".
Some Keywords:
streptolysin S, streptolysin O, necrosis, bacteria + toxin, phagocytosis, hemolysis + Strep, Strep throat
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