A Neutrophil Chasing a Bacterium: A white blood cell called a neutrophil chases down a Staphylococcus aureus bacterium before consuming it. Neutrophils are highly motile phagocytic cells that constitute one of the main defenses of the innate immune system. The neutrophil detects a chemical trail emanating from the bacterium in a process called chemotaxis. After phagocytosis is complete, conditions within the vacuole are conducive to microbial killing and digestion by enzymes . Source: David Rogers #science #biology #immunology #GIF