Cells that die with a bang contribute to high death rate in bloodstream infections

Cells lining blood vessels in the lungs that are exposed to bacterial toxins don't die easy, according to a new study. When these blood vessel cells come into contact with bacterial toxins called lipopolysaccharides, an explosive form of cell death known as pyroptosis occurs. Without these enzymes, pyroptosis cannot occur, making these caspases attractive targets for drugs that can prevent tissue damage caused by infections.