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Membrane Attack Complex (MAC)
A complex comprised of complement proteins C6, C7, C8, and C9, which when assembled causes C9 to polymerize into pores in gram-negative bacterial membranes. These pores let in molecules such as water and ions that accumulate within the bacterial cells and cause cell lysis and death. MAC is not effective for the destruction of gram-positive bacteria, hence a more heavy reliance on opsonization.
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Updated 2024-07-06
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Biomedical Sciences
Microbiology @ OpenStax
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