Phagocytosis and innate immunity

Phagocytosis is an evolutionarily conserved process utilized by many cells to ingest microbial pathogens, and apoptotic and necrotic corpses. Recent investigation has revealed a fundamental requirement for two co-ordinated cellular processes — cytoskeletal alterations and membrane trafficking — in the phagocytic event. Some elements of this machinery are co-opted by certain pathogens to gain entry into host cells.