phagotysosis

Question 1

how does phagocytosis work

Answer 1

1. pathogen is recognised as having non-self antigens and so an immune response is triggered
2. a phagocyte will engulf the pathogen by endocytosis
3. this forms a phagosome around the pathogen
4. a lysosome fuses to the phagosome to form a phagolysosome
5. the lysosome releases hydrolitic enzymes to break down the pathogen
6. harmless product gets removed by exocytosis

Question 2

what are the 2 types of phagocytes and what do they do

Answer 2

1. neutrophil - engulfs and digests the pathogen
2. macrophage - produces holes in the pathogen to make it more appealing for the neutrophil

Question 3

what are antigens

Answer 3

proteins on the surface of a cell membrane which are used to trigger an immune response and they each have their own unique shape