In cell biology, a phagosome is a vacuole formed around a particle absorbed by phagocytosis. The vacuole is formed by the fusion of the cell membrane around the particle. A phagosome is a cellular compartment in which pathogenic microorganisms can be killed and digested. Phagosomes fuse with lysosomes in their maturation process, forming phagolysosomes. Some bacterial pathogens which enter cells inside phagosomes, actually reproduce either inside of the formed phagolysosome (Coxiella)^[1], or escape into the cytoplasm before the phagosome fuses with the lysosome (Rickettsia)^[2].

[edit] References

1. ^ Hackstadt T and Williams J C "Biochemical stratagem for obligate parasitism of eukaryotic cells by Coxiella burnetii." Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1981 May; 78(5): 3240–3244.
2. ^ Winkler H H "Rickettsia Species (As Organisms)" Annual Review of Microbiology Vol. 44: 131-153

[edit] External links

• MeSH A11.284.195.190.875.190.700

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v • d • e Structures of the cell Endomembrane system Cell membrane - Nucleus (and Nucleolus) - Endoplasmic reticulum - Golgi apparatus - Peroxisome - Parenthesome Vesicles (Exosome - Lysosome - Endosome - Phagosome - Vacuole) Cytoplasmic granules (Melanosome - Microbody - Glyoxysome - Weibel-Palade body) Endosymbionts Mitochondrion - Plastids (Chloroplast - Chromoplast - Leucoplast) Cytoskeleton Microfilaments - Intermediate filaments - Microtubules - Prokaryotic cytoskeleton External Cell wall - Cilium/Flagellum - Acrosome Other Cytoplasm - Ribosome - MTOCs (Centrosome/Centriole - Basal body - Spindle pole body) - Vault - Proteasome