IMMUNOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Phagocytosis consists in recognition and ingestion of particles larger than 0.5 m into a plasma membrane derived vesicle, known as phagosome. Phagocytes can ingest microbial pathogens, but importantly also apoptotic cells.

Detailed explanation-2: -Macrophages and neutrophils (phagocytes) are the front-line defenders in your body’s immune system. They seek out, ingest, and destroy pathogens and other debris through a process called phagocytosis.

Detailed explanation-3: -Macrophages initiate phagocytosis by mannose receptors, scavenger receptors, Fc receptors and complement receptors 1, 3 and 4. Macrophages are long-lived and can continue phagocytosis by forming new lysosomes. Dendritic cells also reside in tissues and ingest pathogens by phagocytosis.

Detailed explanation-4: -Phagocytes include neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells (DCs), which have the capacity to engulf and digest relatively large particles on the order of 1–10 µm and even larger.

Detailed explanation-5: -Phagocytes degrade pathogens through phagocytosis, which involves engulfing the pathogen, killing and digesting it within a phagolysosome, and then excreting undigested matter.

Detailed explanation-6: -Macrophages work as innate immune cells through phagocytosis and sterilization of foreign substances such as bacteria, and play a central role in defending the host from infection.

Detailed explanation-7: -Phagocytes are cells that protect the body by ingesting harmful foreign particles, bacteria, and dead or dying cells. Their name comes from the Greek phagein, “to eat” or “devour", and “-cyte", the suffix in biology denoting “cell", from the Greek kutos, “hollow vessel".