Pyrocyte

From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference

A pyrocyte is a type of cell that naturally occurs in Ferengi and Kazon blood.

Ferengi pyrocytes provoke an extreme allergic reaction when introduced through the skin to a Human.

In 2366 Arridor distilled pyrocytes from DaiMon Goss and used them to sicken Mendoza, the negotiator representing the Federation in discussions over the rights to the Barzan wormhole. (TNG: "The Price")

Pyrocytes were an integral part of Kazon blood. When an injured Kazon was beamed aboard the USS Voyager, the Doctor discovered that his blood cells had bonded with metallic matter, due to tampering with Federation replicator technology. The Doctor had to completely replace the pyrocytes of the Kazon and did a cytological screening of the Voyager crew, looking for a donor. (VOY: "State of Flux")

The name "pyrocyte" is of Greek origin and means "fire-cell".

[edit] External link

• Pyrocyte at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works