Cell Biology Project Abstract

Phagocytosis
Team members:
1. Mihika keshari - RA2211036010002
2. Adyasha Pradhan - RA2211036010005
3. Ananya Ananth - RA2211036010010
4. Hamsini Raghavan - RA2211036010026
5. Mulla mushahid - RA2211036010029
6. Athira Prakash - RA2211036010030
7. Bharathraj. A - RA2211036010034
In phagocytosis, the plasma membrane of a cell is directed by
cytoskeletal filaments to form pseudopodia (fake arms) that act to engulf a
particle and bring it into the cell from the extracellular matrix. Once
engulfed, the particle remains compartmentalized in an intracellular
vesicle known as a phagosome and eventually undergoes lysosomal
degradation in the phagocytic pathway. Phagocytosis is primarily
a eukaryotic process.
Since phagocytosis is a cell-mediated process involving the
transport of a substance from the extracellular matrix into the cell, it is
considered a form of endocytosis. Specifically, phagocytosis is a form of
endocytosis that only involves the transport of larger particles (greater
than 0.5 micrometres), such as bacteria or cellular debris. Phagocytosis is
also described as destructive endocytosis due to the fate of particles being 1
endocytosed
CELL BIOLOGY PROJECT ABSTRACT
 GIST AND STEPS IN THE
PHAGOCYTOSIS PROCESS
One hundred years have passed since the death of
Élie Metchnikoff (1845-1916). He was the first to
observe the uptake of particles by cells and realized the
importance of this process for the host response to
injury and infection. He also was a strong advocate of
the role of phagocytosis in cellular immunity, and with
this, he gave us the basis for our modern
understanding of inflammation and innate and
acquired immune responses. Phagocytosis is an elegant
but complex process for the ingestion and elimination
of pathogens, but it is also important for the
elimination of apoptotic cells and hence fundamental
for tissue homeostasis. Phagocytosis can be divided
into four main steps: (i) recognition of the target
particle, (ii) signalling to activate the internalization
machinery, (iii) phagosome formation, and (iv)
phagolysosome maturation. In recent years, the use of
new tools of molecular biology and microscopy has
provided new insights into the cellular mechanisms of
phagocytosis. This review presents a general view of
our current knowledge of phagocytosis. We emphasize
novel molecular findings, particularly on phagosome
formation and maturation, and discuss incompletely
understood aspects.

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CELL BIOLOGY PROJECT ABSTRACT