We
should be grateful for snot, the nasal mucous that works overtime to
combat the nasty bugs we inhale when we breathe. What causes it to be
green is an enzyme, myeloperoxidase, which actually makes bleach to kill
microbial invaders. This tiny bleach factory is safely (for us)
contained in a special kind of white blood cell called a neutrophil,
which is a particularly active part of our immune system that hunts down
and swallows up invasive cells.
Researchers in Germany have captured some
fantastic (and
terrifying)
videos of a neutrophil mercilessly stalking the bad guys, before
engulfing them whole – these cells are truly voracious. You do not want
to make an enemy of a neutrophil. It will find you, and it will kill
you.
Once captured, the neutrophil
proceeds to douse its captives with bleach manufactured by our recent
acquaintance, myeloperoxidase. Doing this internally allows a degree of
damage limitation, tantamount to a controlled explosion. Sadly though,
much like
Monty Python’s Mr Creosote,
the neutrophils can’t keep consuming forever. Eventually they take a
suicidal step, rupturing open and spewing their digested contents out
into the warzone, ready for you to honk out of your nose and admire.
Even though green snot may be disgusting at times, it could be worse. The
chemical explanation of snot at Infectious Enthusiasm
links the operant molecule, haem, to the red in our red blood cells.
Just imagine how horrible it would be to blow your nose and see
red come out!
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