In APS, antibodies mistakenly attack certain proteins that bind to phospholipids, which are fat molecules that are involved in the proper function of cell membranes.

This is made possible by the rapid reduction of nitrofurantoin inside the bacterial cell by flavoproteins (nitrofuran reductase) to multiple reactive intermediates that attack ribosomal proteins, DNA, respiration, pyruvate metabolism and other macromolecules within the cell.

Citrullination is important because it controls the expression of genes, particularly in the developing embryo, and because the immune system often attacks citrullinated proteins, leading to autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

In rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases, such as psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren's syndrome, autoantibodies often attack citrullinated proteins.

It is estimated that nearly 70% of biological damage caused by ionizing radiation is attributable to the free radical, especially the hydroxyl radical that attacks DNA, proteins, and cellular membranes.

The researchers then sought evidence of antibodies in the rodents' blood that would attack proteins in the Alzheimer's sample but that would find no corresponding targets in the normal tissue.

In patients with MS, autoreactive lymphocytes such as T and B cells cause damage to the CNS by attacking myelin proteins.

Thus this substitution disrupts many cellular processes (for instance, thallium may attack sulfur-containing proteins such as cysteine residues and ferredoxins).

The general strategy in developing these tests is to look for antibodies, molecules that attack and neutralize foreign proteins in the body.

BEI is very hazardous since it attacks nucleic acids and proteins as described above.