You sit next to Uncle Ed,an immunologist,at Thanksgiving dinner."I'm a 'big eater'",he says,"just like the cells I study." What are the large cells that engulf pathogens that Uncle Ed works with?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Macrophages are large immune cells that engulf and digest pathogens, just like Uncle Ed describes himself as a "big eater". Monocytes are the precursors to macrophages, and while erythrocytes are important blood cells, they do not have a role in immune defense. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect and kill bacteria, and antibodies are proteins produced by immune cells to recognize and neutralize specific pathogens, but neither of these are large immune cells that engulf pathogens.

You Sit Next to Uncle Ed,an Immunologist,at Thanksgiving Dinner