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Related Concept Videos

Phagocytosis00:41

Phagocytosis

Cells pull particles inward and engulf them in spherical vesicles in an energy-requiring process called endocytosis. Phagocytosis ("cellular eating") is one of three major types of endocytosis. Cells use phagocytosis to take in large objects, such as other cells (or their debris), bacteria, and even viruses.
The objective of phagocytosis is often destruction. Cells use phagocytosis to eliminate unwelcome visitors, like pathogens (e.g., viruses and bacteria). Many immune system cells, including...
Phagocytosis00:41

Phagocytosis

Cells pull particles inward and engulf them in spherical vesicles in an energy-requiring process called endocytosis. Phagocytosis (“cellular eating”) is one of three major types of endocytosis. Cells use phagocytosis to take in large objects—such as other cells (or their debris), bacteria, and even viruses.
Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells01:17

Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells

Cells undergoing apoptosis form apoptotic bodies that must be removed immediately to prevent inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and necrosis. Phagocytosis is carried out by professional phagocytes such as macrophages or  immature dendritic cells. Non-professional phagocytes such as  epithelial cells and fibroblasts also take part in this process; however, they are not as effective as professional phagocytes. 
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized by phagocytes.
Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome01:36

Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome

Eukaryotic cells use different mechanisms to eliminate toxic waste obsolete and worn-out substances. Lysosomes play a pivotal role in this, and hence, these substances are carried to the lysosome from other parts of the cell and extracellular space through different pathways. The most elaborately studied pathways to the lysosome are the endocytic pathways.
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...
Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes01:25

Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes

Immune surveillance is an integral part of the innate immune system, involving the continuous monitoring of peripheral tissues to detect and respond to pathogens, infected cells, or cancerous cells. This surveillance is conducted primarily by natural killer (NK) cells and phagocytes, which employ distinct but complementary mechanisms to identify and eliminate threats.
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...
Microbial Morphologies01:29

Microbial Morphologies

Bacterial and archaeal cells exhibit remarkable diversity in shape and structure, critical in their adaptability and functionality. Among bacteria, the most commonly observed shapes include cocci and bacilli. Cocci are spherical and may exist singly or in groupings such as pairs (diplococci), chains (streptococci), clusters (staphylococci), or tetrads. Bacilli, in contrast, are rod-shaped and can also occur as single cells, in pairs, or chains, depending on their environmental and genetic...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 8, 2026

Time-lapse 3D Imaging of Phagocytosis by Mouse Macrophages
07:24

Time-lapse 3D Imaging of Phagocytosis by Mouse Macrophages

Published on: October 19, 2018

Phagocytosis dynamics depends on target shape.

Debjani Paul1, Sarra Achouri, Young-Zoon Yoon

  • 1Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom. debjani.paul@iitb.ac.in

Biophysical Journal
|September 10, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Phagocytosis kinetics were studied using an imaging-based method. Target shape significantly impacts uptake time more than size, with nonspherical particles taking much longer to be engulfed.

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"Phagosome Closure Assay" to Visualize Phagosome Formation in Three Dimensions Using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescent Microscopy (TIRFM)
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"Phagosome Closure Assay" to Visualize Phagosome Formation in Three Dimensions Using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescent Microscopy (TIRFM)

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Exploring the Sequential Cellular Events of Phagocytosis Triggered by Godanti Bhasma in Mammalian Cells
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Exploring the Sequential Cellular Events of Phagocytosis Triggered by Godanti Bhasma in Mammalian Cells

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 8, 2026

Time-lapse 3D Imaging of Phagocytosis by Mouse Macrophages
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Published on: October 19, 2018

"Phagosome Closure Assay" to Visualize Phagosome Formation in Three Dimensions Using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescent Microscopy (TIRFM)
10:07

"Phagosome Closure Assay" to Visualize Phagosome Formation in Three Dimensions Using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescent Microscopy (TIRFM)

Published on: August 26, 2016

Exploring the Sequential Cellular Events of Phagocytosis Triggered by Godanti Bhasma in Mammalian Cells
10:10

Exploring the Sequential Cellular Events of Phagocytosis Triggered by Godanti Bhasma in Mammalian Cells

Published on: July 11, 2025

Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Phagocytosis is a crucial cellular process involving the uptake of particles.
  • Understanding the physical factors influencing phagocytosis is essential for a complete picture.
  • Previous studies often relied on fixed cells, limiting real-time kinetic analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and validate an imaging-based method for real-time phagocytosis kinetics.
  • To investigate the influence of target size and shape on phagocytosis engulfment time.

Main Methods:

  • An imaging-based assay was developed for real-time phagocytosis monitoring.
  • Single-event engulfment times were measured for numerous phagocytic events.
  • Spherical and nonspherical (ellipsoidal) targets of varying sizes were used.

Main Results:

  • Engulfment time increased with target size for spherical particles.
  • Nonspherical targets exhibited significantly longer uptake times compared to spheres.
  • Target shape was found to be a more dominant factor than size in phagocytosis kinetics.

Conclusions:

  • The developed imaging method allows for real-time kinetic analysis of phagocytosis.
  • Target shape plays a more critical role than target size in determining phagocytosis rate.
  • These findings provide quantitative insights into the physical mechanisms of phagocytosis.