Killer T cell attacking cancer

Cambridge University's Under the Microscope is a collection of videos that show glimpses of the natural and man-made world in stunning close-up. Check out the rest of the series here: http://bit.ly/A6bwCE

In this video we see a killer T cell of the immune system attacking a cancer cell.

Professor Gillian Griffiths:
"Cells of the immune system protect the body against pathogens. If cells in our bodies are infected by viruses, or become cancerous, then killer cells of the immune system identify and destroy the affected cells. Cytotoxic T cells are very precise and efficient killers. They are able to destroy infected or cancerous cells, without destroying healthy cells surrounding them. The Wellcome Trust funded laboratory of Professor Gillian Griffiths, at the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, investigates just how this is accomplished. By understanding how this works, we can develop ways to control killer cells. This will allow us to find ways to improve cancer therapies, and ameliorate autoimmune diseases caused when killer cells run amok and attack healthy cells in our bodies."

Cytotoxic T cells are just 10 microns in length: approximately one-tenth the width of a human hair. These movies are 92 times real time.

The original footage shown was made by Alex Ritter, a PhD student on the NIH-OxCam programme, in the laboratory of Professor Gillian Griffiths at the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research and the Department of Medicine of the Clinical School of the University of Cambridge. The images were acquired using an Andor Revolution spinning disk system with an Olympus microscope. Professor Griffiths is a Wellcome Trust Principal Research Fellow.

Links for more information:

http://www.cimr.cam.ac.uk

http://www.cimr.cam.ac.uk/investigato...

http://www.immunology.cam.ac.uk/about

Music by Intercontinental Music Lab
http://www.intercontinentalmusiclab.com

Find more Cambridge University research here:
http://www.cam.ac.uk/research

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  Education

[drproof]

our body is so cool...

[kostas talarantas]

Most beautiful thing ever

[NameIsMrMe]

Humans did create the Airplane, automobile, telephone, internet, toilet, water filter, television, plastics, and so many other things. So we humans have created a great deal. Please show less ignorance.

[ryancouture]

amazing how seemingly inanimate and unintelligent matter turns into this.

[ZenTubeMarx]

...give 'em a jar of t-cells...

[John Cheatham]

The reason we continue to die from cancer is we deplete our body from Alkaline. We continue to go to these fast restaurant and eat french fries and greasy burgers. The fast food industry has eliminated vegetables which the body has to have in order to keep our cells health and alive...Send me and email and I can send some info that will change your life for the better or PM on FB

[TheTruthQuest123]

looks cool, and yet you still die from cancer, not good enough..

[Jasdragon12987]

The video is quite cool and the cells attacking is auesome. GOOD JOB :)

[thangQanime]

...um T Cells are defense cells that are already in your body.

Havent you ever heard of your immune system?

Or did you think you survived this long on kisses from mommy?

[Liz Darianne]

fantastic!

[Ahmad Najeh]

COOL!

[thecreativewebshow]

t cells don't consciously hunt down cancer cells, correct?