A pyrocyte was a type of cell that occurred naturally in Ferengi and Kazon blood.
Ferengi pyrocytes provoked 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 in 2371, 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")
External link
- Pyrocyte at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works