Microbe Magazine

Cover: Mycobacterium tuberculosis-(red) infected macrophages (green) die by apoptosis. Uninfected macrophages (blue) flock to dying cells and engulf the dead cell debris containing M. tuberculosis. This process of apoptotic cell cleanup—efferocytosis—is a bactericidal mechanism, as both the internalized cell debris and bacteria are destroyed, promoting pathogen clearance and immune activation (see p. 21). (Image courtesy of Constance J. Martin and Samuel M. Behar.)