A team from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (Israel) has identified an entirely new type of immune cells, called “ruptureblasts”which fights infections through a spectacular mechanism.
Ruptoblasts protect the body through an eruption, reports the Xinhua agency, quoted by Agerpres.
The discovery was published in the journal Cell and provides a different perspective on how simple organisms defend themselves against pathogens.
Unlike classic immune cells, which directly attack bacteria or viruses, ruptoblasts explode upon contact with a chemical signal associated with an infection or injury, releasing compounds that quickly destroy surrounding microbes.
According to the researchers, this mechanism effectively stops the spread of the infection in the affected tissues.
The study also shows that ruptoblasts are involved in the rejection of foreign tissues when two biological fragments are joined.
The discovery could pave the way to new medical approaches in treating infections
This suggests that cells play an important role in recognizing and eliminating non-native structures from the body.
The discovery contradicts the traditional idea that immune defense relies solely on white blood cells and indicates that some organisms use much more aggressive and direct strategies to protect themselves.
The researchers believe these results could pave the way for new medical approaches in treating infections and other conditions.
