Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026
10:07
"Phagosome Closure Assay" to Visualize Phagosome Formation in Three Dimensions Using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescent Microscopy (TIRFM)
Published on: August 26, 2016
Autophagy meets phagocytosis.
Ken Cadwell1, Jennifer A Philips
1Kimmel Center for Biology and Medicine at the Skirball Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Immunity
|September 24, 2013
Summary
Autophagy, a cellular process, aids in clearing intracellular bacteria. This study reveals autophagy
Area of Science:
- Cellular Biology
- Immunology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Autophagy is a known mechanism for degrading intracellular bacteria.
- The precise role of autophagy in the initial internalization of bacteria, particularly by phagocytic cells, remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the involvement of autophagy in the process of phagocytosis.
- To elucidate the role of autophagy in the internalization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by macrophages.
Main Methods:
- Utilized macrophage cell models.
- Employed techniques to study autophagy and bacterial internalization.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated a novel role for autophagy in the internalization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- Showcased autophagy's contribution to the uptake of these intracellular bacteria by macrophages.
Conclusions:
- Autophagy plays a significant role beyond degradation, actively participating in the phagocytosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- This finding expands our understanding of autophagy's function in host-pathogen interactions and innate immunity.
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