phagocytic

(adjective)

Phagocytosis, meaning "cell," and -osis, meaning "process," is the cellular process of engulfing solid particles by the cell membrane to form an internal phagosome by phagocytes and protists.

Related Terms

  • pathogens
  • classical pathway
  • antibodies

Examples of phagocytic in the following topics:

  • Microbial Evasion of Phagocytosis

    • Pathogens have evolved mechanisms to evade capture by phagocytes in the immune system.
    • Pathogenic bacteria and protozoa have developed a variety of methods to resist attacks by phagocytes (phagocytosis), and many actually survive and replicate within phagocytic cells.
    • There are several ways bacteria avoid contact with phagocytes.
    • First, they grow in sites that phagocytes are not capable of traveling to (e.g. the surface of unbroken skin).
    • Bacteria have developed several ways of killing phagocytes.
  • Phagocyte Migration and Phagocytosis

    • The phagocyte then stretches itself around the bacterium and engulfs it.
    • Once inside the phagocyte, the bacterium is trapped in a compartment called a phagosome.
    • This debris serves as a signal to recruit more phagocytes from the blood.
    • All phagocytes, and especially macrophages, exist in degrees of readiness.
    • Chemotaxis is the process by which phagocytes follow the cytokine "scent" to the infected spot.
  • Phagocytes

    • Phagocytes are the white blood cells that protect the body by ingesting harmful foreign particles and help initiate an immune response.
    • Most phagocytes are derived from stem cells in the bone marrow.
    • The main types of phagocytes monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, tissue dendritic cells, and mast cells.
    • Phagocytes derive from stem cells in the bone marrow.
    • Describe the types of phagocytes and their role in initiating an immune response
  • Direct Damage

    • Phagocytosis is a process utilized by phagocytes (white blood cells) as a defense mechanism to protect from foreign bodies.
    • The phagocytes engulf invaders and present them to additional factors within the immune system that result in their destruction.
    • Pathogens that exhibit the ability to avoid contact utilize various processes to accomplish this, including: the ability to grow in regions of the body where phagocytes are incapable of reaching; the ability to inhibit the activation of an immune response; inhibiting and interfering with chemotaxis which drives the phagocytes to site of infection; and 'tricking' the immune system to identify the bacteria as 'self. ' Additional mechanism(s) by which bacteria can avoid destruction is by avoiding engulfment.
    • This is accomplished by the ability of the bacteria to exhibit produce molecules that interfere with the phagocytes ability to internalize the bacteria.
  • Type IV (Delayed Cell-Mediated) Reactions

    • Cell-mediated immunity is an immune response that does not involve antibodies, but rather involves the activation of phagocytes, natural killer cells (NK), antigen-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, and the release of various cytokines in response to an antigen.
    • Cell-mediated immunity is directed primarily at microbes that survive in phagocytes and microbes that infect non-phagocytic cells.
  • Whooping Cough

    • The end result is that phagocytes convert too much ATP to cyclic AMP, which can cause disturbances in cellular signaling mechanisms.
    • This prevents phagocytes from correctly responding to an infection.
  • Neuroglia of the Peripheral Nervous System

    • They also perform phagocytic functions and clear cellular debris, allowing for the regrowth of PNS neurons.
  • The Complement System

    • The complement system helps or "complements" the ability of antibodies and phagocytic cells to clear pathogens from an organism.
    • The complement system helps or "complements" the ability of antibodies and phagocytic cells to clear pathogens from an organism.
    • C3b binds to the surface of pathogens, leading to greater internalization by phagocytic cells by opsonization.
  • Cells and Organs of the Immune System

    • The innate leukocytes include the phagocytes, mast cells, eosinophils, basophils, and natural killer cells.
    • Neutrophils and macrophages are phagocytes that travel throughout the body in pursuit of invading pathogens.
    • Neutrophils are normally found in the bloodstream and are the most abundant type of phagocyte.
    • Dendritic cells are phagocytes in tissues that are in contact with the external environment, and are located mainly in the skin, nose, lungs, stomach, and intestines.
  • WBC Function

    • The antibodies bind to pathogens to opsonize (mark) them for phagocytes to engulf, neutralize them, or start a complement cascade in which proteins form a membrane attack complex to lyse the pathogen.
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