/sci/ - Science & Math

>>6923678
Thanks, Needle section of the Type III secretion system from Y. pestis (plague). This bastard lets the bacteria pierce the membrane of immune cells and deliver cytotoxins directly into them, hampering the ability of the body to develop antibodies against them and bypassing the need for the toxins to be absorbed by the target cell. A modified form is used by PVL+ S. aureus to lyse cells but, rather than being anchored in the bacterial wall, it's spat out like an angry junky throwing used needles at a cop.