[The vacuolar apparatus and membrane fusion in the cell]

Current literature on the structure of vacuolar apparatus and its involvement in the process of intracellular transport has been reviewed. Modern views on endocytosis and its particular steps are described. Special attention is paid to one of important steps of endocytosis-the phagosome-lysosome fusion, its disturbance under the action of pathogenic microorganisms, its inhibition and stimulation by some chemical factors and biologically active compounds. The authors widely used their own experimental data. Much attention is paid to the current notions on the fusion pore structure and function, as well as on fusion mechanisms of biological membranes and factors regulating this process.