Stanford scientists discover immune cells that explode like microscopic bombs

Stanford scientists discovered a new type of immune cell in planarian flatworms called ruptoblasts that explode and kill surrounding cells and bacteria. This process, called ruptosis, occurs extremely rapidly within seconds to minutes, and the cell completely disappears. The discovery was made while studying how planarians reject foreign tissues, similar to how the human immune system rejects transplanted organs. Ruptoblasts were tested against E. coli bacteria and human and mouse cells, which they successfully destroyed. This ability to deliver rapid and localized attacks could inspire the development of new treatments against infections and tumors. The research was published in the journal Cell.