CELLS alive LOGO

Cell Biology

Microbiology

Immunology

Microscopy

Video

Cell Models

HowBig
Mitosis

Cell Cycle
Meiosis

Cell Cams

Puzzles

Quizzes

Animations

PowerPoints

Video

CD-ROM

Stock Video



Search cellsalive
Custom Search

 

 


These Streptococci Kill White Blood Cells

Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player.

Get Adobe Flash player

Add visual punch to your presentations with unabridged audio-free CELLS alive! Videos.

 



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.

 

Some Keywords:

streptolysin S, streptolysin O, necrosis, bacteria + toxin, phagocytosis, hemolysis + Strep, Strep throat

 

 

 

Translate this Page:
Have a Question?:

 

Home  |  About Us  |  Awards  |  Privacy Policy  |  Permissions  |  Contact  |  ©1994 to 2013, Quill Graphics