oxidative burst

(noun)

A chemical reaction that occurs in phagocytes in which an engulfed pathogen is destroyed by exposure to oxidative stress from reactive oxygen species.

Related Terms

Examples of oxidative burst in the following topics:

  • Phagocytes

    • A series of chemical reactions called an oxidative burst occurs, which uses reactive oxygen species and NADPH oxidase to damage and kill the pathogen through oxidative stress.
    • Oxidative stress can kill a cell through DNA, cell membrane, or mitochondrial damage.
    • For instance, other receptors may be used to engulf pathogens, and other non-oxidative methods (such as lysozyme) exist to kill the phagocytized pathogen.

  • Aerobic Training vs. Strength Training

    • There are two principal ways to categorize muscle fibers: the type of myosin (fast or slow) present, and the degree of oxidative phosphorylation that the fiber undergoes.
    • These fibers are suited for endurance activities and are slow to fatigue because they use oxidative metabolism to generate ATP.
    • These fibers are efficient for short bursts of speed and power and use both oxidative and anaerobic metabolisms depending on the particular sub-type.
    • With training, a higher level of effort can be sustained for extended periods, using oxygen and oxidative phosphorylation as the primary energy source.

  • Sebaceous (Oil) Glands

    • In the glands, sebum is produced within specialized cells and is released as these cells burst; sebaceous glands are thus classified as holocrine glands.
    • In the glands, sebum is produced within specialized cells and is released as these cells burst; sebaceous glands are thus classified as holocrine glands.

  • Abnormal Contractions of Skeletal Muscle

    • It most commonly refers to a muscle cramp which is often accompanied by a sudden burst of pain; it is usually harmless and ceases after a few minutes.

  • Classification of Neurons

    • Neurons that are intermittently active are called phasic or bursting.

  • Creatine Supplementation

    • Creatine supplements, when used in the short-term, can increase performance during high intensity anaerobic exercise that requires short bursts of muscle contraction.

  • Velocity and Duration of Muscle Contraction

    • In a twitch contraction, a short burst of stimulation causes the muscle to contract, but the duration is so brief that the muscle begins relaxing before reaching peak force.

  • RBC Anatomy

    • They can swell up to a sphere shape containing 150 fL without bursting their cell membrane.

  • Slow-Twitch and Fast-Twitch Muscle Fibers

    • While much less efficient than aerobic respiration, it is ideal for rapid bursts of movement since it is not rate limited by need for oxygen.

  • Fibrinolysis

    • For example, patients thought to be suffering from a stroke (obstructed artery in the brain) must be screened through imaging before given aspirin or a fibrinolytic drug, because if they have an aneurysm or hemorrhage (burst blood vessel or bleeding in the brain), administering fibrinolytic treatment would make their condition worse and possibly fatal by inhibiting the clotting that could save their lives.