Now in our 13th year of bringing you beautiful imagery from biomedical science every day

Search the archive of over 4000 images

Trapping TB
12 September 2017

Trapping TB

Tuberculosis (TB) gets its name from the bacterium that causes it, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Despite being curable, it remains a global health threat and has become resistant to many antibiotics. Using real-time live-cell imaging, scientists have uncovered a defence mechanism within TB-infected cells that regulates infection. Usually, TB (in green) is detected by immune cells called macrophages (nuclei shown in blue), which then envelop the bacterium in cell membrane and ingest it, forming phagosomes (red rings). In a bid to survive, the bacteria punch holes in the phagosome membrane, and leak out into the cell to feed off its nutrients. However, the macrophages are sometimes able to counteract this, thanks to the actions of the Rab20 protein. Rab20 instructs the cell to send more membrane to tight phagosomes to make them more spacious. By enlarging the phagosomes, the bacteria are immobilised, allowing the delivery of antibacterial agents to destroy them.

Written by Soumya Perinparajah

Search The Archive

Submit An Image

Follow on Tumblr

Follow on Instagram

What is BPoD?

BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

Read More

BPoD is also available in Catalan at www.bpod.cat with translations by the University of Valencia.