Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Tractable Mammalian Cell Infections with Protozoan-primed Bacteria
Published on: April 2, 2013
Phagotrophic protozoa: A new weapon against pathogens?
1Baskent University Medical Faculty, Department of Histology and Embryology, 06510 Eimusgut, Ankara, Turkey. drnacar@baskent.edu.tr
Abstract:
Immune suppression is one of the most important factors contributing mortality in systemic diseases like HIV, cancer or diabetes. Moreover, in autoimmune diseases immune suppression itself becomes the only choice of therapy. Finally, fatal bacterial infections occur. As antibiotics get stronger, severity of their side effects increase and more resistant organisms develop. The war between antibiotics and pathogens becomes a never ending story while human body gets weaker day by day. Therefore we should develop new methods against bacterial infections. We have suggested that the protists controlling the bacterial growth effectively in aquatic environments could be used in the human body to cope with human pathogens. Million years of a balanced aquatic ecosystem could be a clue for us to search for better and more natural fighting methods against human infectious agents.
Related Concept Videos
Diversity of Protists II
Overview of Protists
Colonisation of Pathogens
Phagocytosis
The objective of phagocytosis is often destruction. Cells use phagocytosis to eliminate unwelcome visitors, like pathogens (e.g., viruses and bacteria). Many immune system cells, including...
Phagocytosis
Diversity of Protists I
