Fagositte

Fagositte is a term used in some biological glossaries to denote phagosomes, the intracellular vesicles that form during phagocytosis. In many texts the standard term phagosome is preferred, but fagositte may appear in certain languages or older literature as a synonym or regional variant. A phagosome originates when a cell engulfs particulate matter, such as a microbe, debris, or apoptotic cells, by extending its membrane around the target.

The formation process begins with recognition of the target by surface receptors, followed by engulfment through cytoskeletal rearrangements that create pseudopods. The membrane closes to release a closed vesicle—the phagosome—into the cytoplasm. During maturation, the phagosome undergoes a series of fusion and remodeling events, gradually acquiring markers of endosomal compartments. The interior becomes increasingly acidic, and digestive enzymes are delivered through fusion with lysosomes to form a phagolysosome, where breakdown of the cargo occurs.

Phagosomes play a central role in innate immunity and also contribute to adaptive immunity. In professional phagocytes such as macrophages and neutrophils, degradation of microbes helps eliminate pathogens. Antigenic fragments from degraded material can be loaded onto MHC molecules for presentation to T cells, linking phagocytosis to T-cell–mediated responses. Some pathogens have evolved strategies to avoid destruction within phagosomes, highlighting the ongoing coevolution of host defense and microbial evasion.

Dysfunction in phagosome formation or maturation can lead to increased susceptibility to infections, illustrating the importance of fagositte and phagosomes in maintaining immune competence. Related terms include phagocytosis and phagolysosome.