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  • RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

Surprise find: a blood-based immune system is discovered in the gut

Immune guardians called complement proteins are manufactured by gut cells and help to protect against pathogens.
Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a neutrophil white blood cell. White blood cells are part of the body's immune system.

Complement proteins help immune cells (example, artificially coloured) to track down and destroy invading microorganisms. Credit: Science Photo Library

A protein made by gut cells helps to destroy harmful bacteria in the intestines, according to experiments in mice1.

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Nature 626, 237 (2024)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-00245-y

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