Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 26, 2025

"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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Plugging a Leak: How Phagosomes "Stretch" to Accommodate Pathogen Growth

Chinaemerem U Onyishi1, Guillaume E Desanti1, Robin C May1

  • 1Institute of Microbiology & Infection and School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.

Cell Host & Microbe
|December 10, 2020
PubMed

Insights

When the fungus Candida albicans grows inside phagocytes, lysosomes fuse with the phagosome. This fusion maintains the phagosome

Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Immunology
  • Mycology

Background:

  • Phagocytes are immune cells that engulf pathogens into phagosomes.
  • Pathogen expansion within phagosomes poses a challenge to host cell integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the host cell response to growing fungal pathogens within phagosomes.
  • To understand the mechanisms maintaining phagosomal integrity during pathogen expansion.

Main Methods:

  • Live-cell imaging of phagosome-lysosome dynamics.
  • Microscopy techniques to observe Candida albicans growth within phagocytes.

Main Results:

  • Lysosomes were observed to fuse with phagosomes containing expanding Candida albicans.
  • This fusion process is crucial for maintaining the structural integrity of the phagosome membrane.
  • The study elucidates a novel host-pathogen interaction mechanism.

Conclusions:

  • Lysosome-phagosome fusion is a critical defense mechanism against intracellular fungal growth.
  • This process prevents phagosomal rupture and limits pathogen dissemination.
  • Understanding this interaction can inform therapeutic strategies against Candida albicans infections.

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