ABSTRACT
Phagocytosis is among the major effector mechanisms for the eradication of infectious agents and is a first line of defense. Using pattern recognition receptors that recognize characteristic microbial features, or receptors for other antimicrobial host factors bound to the microorganism, phagocytic
cells bind to microorganisms, internalize, and destroy them. Phagocytosis is performed by two different lineages of leukocytes, namely, polymorphonuclear granulocytes including neutrophils (PMN), basophils and eosinophils, and mononuclear phagocytes (MP) or macrophages. Because of their function, PMN and MP are often referred to as “professional phagocytes” to distinguish them from most other host cells that, although capable of limited uptake of extracellular material, are called “nonprofessional phagocytes.”
