Exosomes on surface of HeLa cell

Cells interacting to cause immune response

Microplasma

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This image shows a scanning electron micrograph of the surface of a HeLa cell that has been treated with a drug to induce exosome (here seen as small particles) release. Exosomes are a type of vesicle, or fluid-filled space surrounded by a membrane, that are released from cells. Our understanding of how they behave is in its infancy, but exosomes have already been implicated in numerous disease states, including neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.


Here, it is shown for the first time that exosomes remain associated to the surface of cells following their expulsion from the cell. The image helps to demonstrate that exosomes are retained in small clusters, and further work has shown that these clusters are held together by the protein 'tetherin' which plays a similar role in holding viruses to the surface of cells as a means of limiting viral spread.

Immune system in action. Different cell types in
the spleen interacting to cause a specific immune
response. Biomedical Image Awards 2002.

This image shows a scanning electron micrograph of the surface of a HeLa cell (pink) that has been treated with a drug to induce exosome (blue) release. Exosomes are a type of vesicle, or fluid-filled space surrounded by a membrane, that are released from cells. Our understanding of how they behave is in its infancy, but exosomes have already been implicated in numerous disease states, including neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.


Here, it is shown for the first time that exosomes remain associated to the surface of cells following their expulsion from the cell. The image helps to demonstrate that exosomes are retained in small clusters, and further work has shown that these clusters are held together by the protein 'tetherin' which plays a similar role in holding viruses to the surface of cells as a means of limiting viral spread.

This scanning electron micrograph shows microplasma, a genus of bacteria that lack a cell wall. Without a cell wall they are unaffected by many common antibiotics, such as penicillin, or other beta-lactam antibiotics that work by targeting cell wall synthesis. These microplasma are shown on the surface of osteoblast cells, cells that are involved in the creation of new bone.

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Cell surface

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Exosomes on surface of HeLa cell

Cells interacting to cause immune response

Exosomes on surface of HeLa cell

Microplasma

Today’s opening times

Wellcome uses cookies.

Cell surface

Images

Works

Exosomes on surface of HeLa cell

Cells interacting to cause immune response

Exosomes on surface of HeLa cell

Microplasma

Wellcome Collection

Today’s opening times