Doctors Robert and Jan Knight,researchers on bio- luminescence,collect piddock molluscs at the seashore in Plymouth,England. This husband and wife team purified and named the bioluminescent substance Pholasin (R) produced by the "common piddock" mollusc Pholas dactylus. Experiments have shown that Pholasin (R) luminescence is switched on by the human body's defensive white blood cells. The amount of light emitted can be used to measure white blood cell (immune system) activation. Pholasin (R) may thus be of use in the early diagnosis of autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or types of diabetes,and to assess the effectiveness of autoimmune drugs | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit: | Science Photo Library / King-Holmes, James |
Taille de l’image : | 4968 px × 4016 px |
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