phagocytosis

• Phagocytosis


  The process by which a cell engulfs and digests a particle or pathogen
• Phagocytes


  • White blood cells that carry out phagocytosis
  • Found naturally occurring in the blood and tissues
• Phagocytosis


  1. Phagocyte detects chemicals/debris from pathogens or abnormal cells

  2. Phagocyte moves towards the chemicals/debris

  3. Phagocyte binds to the pathogen via receptors

  4. Phagocyte engulfs the pathogen

  5. Pathogen is contained in a phagosome

  6. Lysosome fuses with phagosome

  7. Lysosomal enzymes destroy the pathogen

  8. Phagocyte becomes an antigen presenting cell
• Lysosome


  Vesicle containing enzymes that can break down pathogens
• Lysozyme


  Enzyme in lysosomes that can hydrolyze and destroy pathogens
• Phagocytosis is a non-specific immune response, meaning it responds the same way to any detected non-self particle
• Phagocytes, such as macrophages, are the white blood cells that carry out phagocytosis
• The key steps in phagocytosis are: detection, engulfment, phagosome formation, lysosome fusion, and pathogen destruction
• After destroying a pathogen, the phagocyte becomes an antigen presenting cell
• Phagocytes are found naturally occurring in the blood and tissues