JERUSALEM, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Researchers have identified a previously unknown type of immune cell, dubbed "ruptoblasts," that protects the body by erupting, Israel's Ben-Gurion University of the Negev said in a statement on Thursday.
Described in the journal Cell, the discovery reveals a rapid defense mechanism in simple organisms. Unlike conventional immune cells that attack pathogens directly, ruptoblasts detonate upon receiving a chemical signal linked to infection or injury.
This explosion releases potent substances that quickly destroy bacteria and other harmful microbes in the surrounding area, effectively halting the spread of infection, the researchers said.
The study also found that ruptoblasts play a role in tissue rejection when different biological samples are joined, suggesting they help the body identify and respond to foreign tissue.
The findings challenge the traditional understanding that immune defense depends only on white blood cells, and indicate that some organisms use a much more aggressive and direct method of protection, an insight that could open new medical approaches for treating infections and diseases. ■
