Fig. 16: Neutrophil NETS Trapping and Killing Bacteria

In response to certain pathogen associated molecular patterns such as LPS, and certain cytokines such as IL-8, neutrophils release DNA and antimicrobial granular proteins. These neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) bind to bacteria, prevent them from spreading, and kill them with antimicrobial proteins such as histones and elastins. One hypothesis, shown in this animation, proposes that the NETs are produced by living neutrophils in response to bacteria. Alternately, NETs may be released as a result of necrotic cell death of neutrophils.

Illustration of Neutrophil NETS Trapping and Killing Bacteria .jpg by Gary E. Kaiser, Ph.D.
Professor of Microbiology, The Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville Campus
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at https://cwoer.ccbcmd.edu/science/microbiology/index_gos.html.

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Last updated: August, 2019
Please send comments and inquiries to Dr. Gary Kaiser