Phagocytosis: A Fundamental Process in Immunity

One hundred years have passed since the death of Élie Metchnikoff (1845-1916). He was the first to observe the uptake of particles by cells and realized the importance of this process for the host response to injury and infection. He also was a strong advocate of the role of phagocytosis in cellular immunity, and with this he gave us the basis for our modern understanding of inflammation and the innate and acquired immune responses. Phagocytosis is an elegant but complex process for the ingestion and elimination of pathogens, but it is also important for the elimination of apoptotic cells and hence fundamental for tissue homeostasis. Phagocytosis can be divided into four main steps: (i) recognition of the…

• CN
  Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología

  Awards: IA202013-2, 254434, PAPIIT IA202013-2
• UN
  Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
• DG
  Dirección General de Asuntos del Personal Académico, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

  Awards: PAPIIT IA202013-2, 254434