Parasites that live inside cells use loophole to thwart immune system
Monday, November 3, 2008 - 16:08
in Health & Medicine
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have discovered a mechanism by which intracellular pathogens can shut down one of the body's key chemical weapons against them: nitric oxide. The researchers found that the microbes block nitric oxide production by subverting the biochemical machinery used by immune cells called macrophages to produce the chemical.