How White Blood Cells Fight Infection (and Why They Sometimes Make it Worse!)

White blood cells can be super helpful, or they can make a problem worse: when faced with threats ranging from snake bites to COVID infections, some white blood cells retaliate with a peculiar tactic: spewing out their own DNA to form pathogen-trapping nets. But research suggests that sometimes this web-deploying response might do our bodies more harm than good. Learn all about it with Stefan Chin in this fun episode of SciShow!

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[daviddavis]

They *really* wanted the acronym to be NET, didn’t they?

[juliejames]

I have a feeling this video is about to become real popular.

[Furlucis]

I am astonished nobody in the comments has mentioned the “/nuclear/ option” joke yet, because it's great. if a bit subtle.

[LordAddragoth]

Thanks anime for teaching me about neutrophils

[TakoyakiStore]

Stefan: It's like if zombies attacked you by throwing their brains.
Me: I'd pay to see that movie.

[alexstorr]

As a severe Psoriasis sufferer I can attest to the complicated nature of the immune system - stop attacking me!!

[christelheadington]

What COVID-19 and snake venom have in common: I try to avoid both of them.

[lyndsaybrown]

Who else said hello back to the neutrophil?

[ThorstenWirth]

so ... just imagine exploding neutrophils in Hataraku Saibou.

[krishnav]

Hello SciShow team, I am from India. Can you please make a video on ITP (Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura). I know a person close to me suffering with this problem and given the quality of information you provide regarding various scientific aspects, It will be helpful for us to understand what is ITP and how it is being managed in global medicine.

[mariamsaif]

Research Dr. Bryan Ardis on another uncensored platform- he has made the connection

[ekko]

"Watch the waters" documentary 🐍
Dr. Bryan Ardis

[weaponizedautism]

Holy crap. They are now talking about Covid being from snake venom.

[matthewbrown]

The first scientist who came out and said covid was snake venom was killed very soon afterwards.

[johnopalko]

Now I want a tee shirt that says
ENGULF!
DISSOLVE!!
ELIMINATE!!!

[ShapeDoppelganger]

This is so incredible and humbling, seeing something entirely new.

I've been watching this kind of content for years and it is really nice when you learn an entire new thing about a topic you think you've got some pointers on.

This kind of knowledge should be a reminder that there'll always be more to be learned.

[meetaverma]

I wonder if they cover this in cells at work

[kidmohair]

just another reminder that in reality,
all life
is just
coherent slime mould...

[scottwhales]

Really helpful and useful, we are getting better understanding and closer to solution now, no more beating around the bushes. Thanks.

[carolwilliams]

The described clotting abnormality sounds very much like the cause of actor Nick Cordero's leg amputation during his unsuccessful struggle with Covid-19. 😧 R.I.P. Nick...