Phagocytosis Incomplete

Phagocytosis incomplete (also known as endocytobiosis) is the process in which a cell partially engulfs another cell or microorganism without completely digesting it.

In normal phagocytosis, the phagocyte (such as a macrophage) completely surrounds the particle or microbe, forming a phagosome around it. The phagosome then fuses with a lysosome containing enzymes that digest the captured particle.

However, with incomplete phagocytosis, this process is not completed. Instead of being completely digested, the captured cell or microorganism remains alive inside the phagocyte. This can happen for several reasons:

1. Some microbes have evolved mechanisms to prevent the fusion of the phagosome with the lysosome, thereby avoiding digestion.

2. The phagocyte may not have enough active lysosomes to completely digest the captured particle.

3. The captured cell may actively oppose the digestion process.

Incomplete phagocytosis allows some intracellular pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, to survive and multiply within phagocytes. This makes it difficult for the immune system to fight these infections. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying incomplete phagocytosis may help in the development of new treatments for such diseases.