- Kelly Finan
- How Cells Use Decoys to Defend Against Pathog
- Vector Art
Collection: Medical x
PUNCTURE THIS: Based on experiments with mice and cultured human epithelial cells, researchers pieced together how hosts can use exosomes to defend themselves against bacterial toxins. Host cells detect the presence of bacteria using a receptor called TLR9, which senses bacterial DNA (1). In wild-type mice, host cells respond by releasing exosomes studded with the protein ADAM10, which act as decoys, but mice deficient in an autophagy protein called ATG16L1 release far fewer of the decoy exosomes (2), indicating the autophagy protein is necessary to mount an effective exosome response. Indeed, while MRSA’s alpha-toxin binds the host receptor ADAM10 on exosomes in wildtype mice, destroying the vesicles, in mice lacking ATG16L1, alpha-toxin binds ADAM10 on host cells, forming a pore and killing cells (3).
About the Artist: Kelly Finan x
"My business focuses on using stable and radiogenic geochemistry, not something common to many of the people that I work with. Kelly's ability to construct clear, well-designed and highly aesthetic images has helped me convey complex geochemical reactions and geochemical patterns with ease."
-Dr. Ryan Mathur, geologist
"Kelly was excellent to work with; she is organized, quick to respond to email communications, produces work that transmits information (crucial for scientific illustration) and work that is often beautiful."
-Dr. Paula Martin, water scientist
"[I] have been more than pleased with the quality of Kelly's work, and with her ability to capture the essence of new creatures in a new landscape."
-Dr. Bill McLarney, ichthyologist
Visit my website for more illustrations, graphic design, and information about me!
www.kellyfinan.com