Immune ET

Starting the series 'Know your immune cells'. Featuring Neutrophils! 👩🚒 1. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cells in the human body, accounting for about 50-70% of all WBCs. 2. Neutrophils are often the first immune cells to arrive at the site of an infection or injury. 3. Neutrophils can release networks of extracellular fibers called neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) to trap and kill pathogens. This process is known as NETosis. 4. Neutrophils have a distinctive multi-lobed nucleus, typically divided into 2-5 lobes, which gives them the flexibility to move through tissues. 5. While essential for fighting infections, neutrophils can also contribute to tissue damage and inflammation in chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Image credit: Scanning electron micrograph of a human neutrophil ingesting Staphylococcus aureus. ——— Follow Abantika Ghosh for more science comm content. #immunology #immunecells #biology #sciencecommunication #linkedincontent #ImmuneET #neutrophils

'Know your Immune Cells' - Feature 2: Macrophages! 💥 1. Macrophages are found in virtually all tissues and are often referred to by different names depending on their location, such as Kupffer cells in the liver, alveolar macrophages in the lungs, and microglia in the brain. 2. Macrophages play a key role in the adaptive immune response by presenting antigens from pathogens to adaptive immune cells. 3. Macrophages exhibit plasticity and can adapt to different microenvironments by adopting functional states, such as the classically activated (M1) and alternatively activated (M2) phenotypes. 4. Some pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (the bacterium that causes tuberculosis), can survive and replicate inside macrophages, using them as reservoirs to evade the immune system. Image credit: "Macrophages with fluorescent beads" Fluorescence signals of the beads in confocal LSM detection is overlaid with SEM imaging. Sample by Jeffrey L. Caplan and Kirk J. Czymmek, Bioimaging Center, Delaware Biotechnology Institute. Imaging: ZEISS Microscopy Labs, Germany. License Notice: CC BY 4.0 https://lnkd.in/dRrnPV9Z ——- Follow Abantika Ghosh for more science comm.

'Know your immune cells'. Featuring Dendritic cells! 💎 1. Dendritic cells (DCs) are considered the most potent antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Upon capturing antigens, dendritic cells migrate to lymph nodes where they interact with T cells and B cells, providing a link between the innate and adaptive immune systems. 2. DCs have a unique morphology with long extensions called dendrites, which increase their surface area for capturing antigens. 3. DCs are located in tissues that are in contact with the external environment, such as the skin (Langerhans cells), mucosal linings of the nose, lungs, and intestines. They act as sentinels, constantly monitoring for pathogens. 4. Dendritic cells also play a role in inducing immune tolerance. They can present antigens in a way that promotes the development of regulatory T cells which help maintain immune homeostasis and prevent autoimmune reactions. 5. DC-based vaccines aim to enhance the immune response against cancers and chronic infections by loading DCs with specific antigens. Image credit: Judith Behnsen, Priyanka Narang, Mike Hasenberg, Frank Gunzer, Ursula Bilitewski, Nina Klippel, Manfred Rohde, Matthias Brock, Axel A. Brakhage, Matthias Gunzer, CC BY 2.5 <https://lnkd.in/dWsEAwVh>, via Wikimedia Commons

Hi, I am Abantika 😊 🎓 An Oxford Immunology grad who somehow in 2021 convinced all nine universities I applied to that I’m worth it! 😋 With a TOEFL score of 115/120 and an IELTS band of 8.5/9, I’ve helped 350+ students on various platforms to ace their applications. I offer CV & SOP reviews, mock interviews, etc, on Topmate. Passionate about guiding mentees, I charge a nominal fee to cover the time & effort I put in and to focus on genuine candidates. My advice is rooted in personal experience—because I’ve been there! You can now book sessions with me and check out what my past mentees have to say at https://lnkd.in/dw_yznzx. 🔬 With 3+ years of experience in cell culture, I'm a member of various science outreach societies and run my blog, ImmuneET. So, when I'm not pipetting in the lab, I'm probably writing about it! (Yeah, I'm a bit of a science nerd) Let’s chat and navigate the academic maze together—with a dash of humour and a lot of hard work: https://lnkd.in/dw_yznzx!

Know your immune cells: B lymphocytes! 😍 1. B cells can differentiate into memory B cells or plasma cells; the former provides long-term immunity, while the latter produces antibodies during an active infection 2. The human body can have up to 10 billion different B cells, ready to defend against a multitude of pathogens 3. The “B” in B cells comes from the Bursa of Fabricius, an organ in birds where they were first discovered; however, in humans, they mature in the bone marrow 4. Abnormal B cell function can lead to various hematological malignancies, including different types of lymphoma and leukemia 5. B cells undergo somatic hypermutation, which increases the diversity of antibodies they can produce. They also undergo class switching, changing the type of antibodies they produce to better suit the pathogen they are fighting Picture credit: Blausen Medical, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://lnkd.in/d22ytM83>, via Wikimedia Commons #Bcells #immunology #immunity #ImmuneET #discover #science #womeninscience #womeninSTEM #STEM #Biology #cancer #immune #vaccines #linkedincontent

Meet your immune cells: Helper T cells (Type 1) 😃 T helper cells provide helper functions to other cells of the immune system— macrophages, dendritic cells, and B cells. There are distinct subsets of helper T cells, including Th1, Th2, Th17, and T regulatory cells. i) Th1 cells play roles in the eradication of intracellular pathogens including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Leishmania. These typically reside in phagocytic vesicles within macrophages and often evade intracellular killing by preventing lysosomal fusion. ii) Th1 cells help to activate macrophages against these pathogens and overcome these microbial evasion strategies. iii) Upon antigen recognition, the naive T cells undergo clonal expansion and differentiation into the different effector subtypes. The two cytokines that play a role in differentiation are IFNγ and IL-12. ------ Credit: New insights into gene regulation help to clarify the path by which T-cell precursors develop into helper or killer lineages. © STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY #immunology #microbiology #biology #sciencecommunication #STEM #womeninSTEM #discover #linkedinstories #linkedincontent