Bacteria or foreign tissue cause the secretion of activin, which triggers calcium release and reorganization of the cytoskeleton in the raptoblast. The cell breaks down and releases substances capable of damaging bacteria, planarian cells, and mammalian cells. Credit: Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Diagram of the mechanism of activation of immune cells called raptoblasts by activin

Bacteria or foreign tissue cause the secretion of activin, which triggers calcium release and reorganization of the cytoskeleton in the raptoblast. The cell breaks down and releases substances capable of damaging bacteria, planarian cells, and mammalian cells. Credit: Ben-Gurion University of the Negev