Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Phagocytosis00:41

Phagocytosis

92.3K
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.
92.3K
Phagocytosis00:41

Phagocytosis

7.5K
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,...
7.5K
Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome01:36

Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome

8.7K
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...
8.7K
Endocytosis01:16

Endocytosis

12.0K
Eukaryotic cells acquire nutrients for growth and proliferation. Nutrients and other molecules that require degradation are internalized from the extracellular space by a process called endocytosis. The term ‘endocytosis' was first coined by Christian de Duve in 1963.
Endocytosis always begins with the plasma membrane enclosing an incoming molecule to form a transport vesicle which, in some cases, can be coated with a protein called ‘clathrin.' Endocytosed material is either...
12.0K
Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes01:25

Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes

7.7K
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...
7.7K
Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells01:17

Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells

4.8K
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...
4.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Identification of the cysteine-rich 61 (CYR61) gene variations in osteosarcoma patients.

Turkish journal of medical sciences·2017
Same author

Cadmium-induced changes in vacuolar aspects of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB·2017
Same author

Towards understanding cellular structure biology: In-cell NMR.

Biochimica et biophysica acta. Proteins and proteomics·2017
Same author

Studying DDT Susceptibility at Discriminating Time Intervals Focusing on Maximum Limit of Exposure Time Survived by DDT Resistant Phlebotomus argentipes (Diptera: Psychodidae): an Investigative Report.

Japanese journal of infectious diseases·2017
Same author

Protective effect of hydroxytyrosol in arsenic-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in rat brain.

Journal of biochemical and molecular toxicology·2017
Same author

p16 and p53 in HPV-positive versus HPV-negative oral squamous cell carcinoma: do pathways differ?

Journal of oral pathology & medicine : official publication of the International Association of Oral Pathologists and the American Academy of Oral Pathology·2017
Same journal

Leptin in metabolic-immune crosstalk: Mechanisms of T cell regulation and implications for autoimmune disease therapy.

International reviews of immunology·2026
Same journal

Metabolic alterations in the tumor microenvironment influence the anti-tumor immune function of CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells via epigenetic modifications.

International reviews of immunology·2026
Same journal

Macrophage markers and gene signature profiling reveals mesenchymal stem cells mediated immune modulation in Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection.

International reviews of immunology·2026
Same journal

Natural antigen landscape shaping intestinal Treg cells: Self, diet, and microbiota.

International reviews of immunology·2026
Same journal

Upregulation of ADAM10 reinforces CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells toward exhaustion in the TME.

International reviews of immunology·2026
Same journal

PTX3 promotes macrophage efferocytosis and inflammation resolution in granulomatous mastitis.

International reviews of immunology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 27, 2025

Visualizing the Early Stages of Phagocytosis
08:04

Visualizing the Early Stages of Phagocytosis

Published on: February 3, 2017

17.1K

Phagocytosis: Phenotypically Simple Yet a Mechanistically Complex Process.

Vijay Kumar1,2

  • 1Faculty of Medicine, Children's Health Queensland Clinical Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, Mater Research, University of Queensland, ST Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

International Reviews of Immunology
|March 7, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Phagocytosis, the engulfment of pathogens and cellular debris, is a complex immunological process crucial for immune homeostasis. Understanding its intricate mechanisms is vital for addressing infections and inflammatory diseases.

Keywords:
EfferocytosisPRRsSRinnate immunityphagocytosis

More Related Videos

"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

6.9K
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

15.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 27, 2025

Visualizing the Early Stages of Phagocytosis
08:04

Visualizing the Early Stages of Phagocytosis

Published on: February 3, 2017

17.1K
"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

6.9K
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

15.3K

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Phagocytosis, discovered by Elia Metchnikoff in 1882, established the innate immune system.
  • Despite its functional simplicity, phagocytosis involves complex molecular mechanisms essential for immune homeostasis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the mechanistic complexity of phagocytosis from induction to phagolysosome resolution.
  • To highlight the role of pattern recognition receptors, scavenger receptors, and opsonins in phagocytosis.

Main Methods:

  • Review of immunological processes.
  • Analysis of molecular mechanisms involved in phagocytosis.

Main Results:

  • Phagocytosis involves engulfment of pathogens, dead cells, and tumor cells.
  • Mechanisms include phagosome formation, maturation into phagolysosomes, and antigen presentation.
  • Defects in phagocytosis can lead to infections, inflammatory diseases, and immunodeficiency.

Conclusions:

  • Phagocytosis is a complex, multi-step process critical for innate and adaptive immunity.
  • Further research into phagocytosis mechanisms can inform treatments for immune-related disorders.