Main description:

Phagocytosis is the engulfment of particulate matter by cells. It is a fundamental (and probably "primitive") cell biological process which is important in single celled organisms such as amoeba; multicellular animals including coelenterates; and in higher animals. In humans and other mammals, specialised immune cells (phagocytes) utilise phagocytosis in their crucial role of engulfing and destroying infecting microbes. Yet, surprisingly, the biophysics and biochemistry underlying the process has only become clear recently with the advent of genetic manipulation and advances in single cell imaging. In this volume, the aim is to bring together recent fundamental advances that give a clear picture of the underlying mechanism involved in phagocytosis. Not only is this an important topic in its own right, but a full understanding of the process will have a potential impact on human medicine, since as antibiotics become less effective in fight infection, researchers are looking at alternative approaches, including enhancing the "natural" immunity brought about by immune phagocytes.

The aim is to provide a comprehensive volume on the topic, with separate chapters on identified recent advances, each written by the major contributors in each area. In addition, the volume will attempt to give a wider overview than is often the case in single author reviews, with an emphasis here on the cell biological understanding of phagocytosis using biophysical approaches alongside the biochemical and imaging approaches.

Contents:

PrefaceChapter 1: An introduction to phagocytosis.
Chapter 2: A Brief History of Phagocytosis. Maurice B. Hallett
Chapter 3: The role of membrane surface charge in phagocytosis. Michelle E. Maxson and Sergio Grinstein
Chapter 4: Receptor models of phagocytosis: the effect of target shape David M. Richards Chapter 5: Decision Making in Phagocytosis. Jana Prassler, Florian Simon, Mary Ecke, and Gunther Gerisch Chapter 6: Membrane tension and the role of ezrin during phagocytosis. Rhiannon E, Roberts , Sharon Dewitt and Maurice B. Hallett
Chapter 7: Molecular mechanisms of calcium signaling during phagocytosis. Paula Nunes-Hasler, Mayis Kaba, Nicolas Demaurex
Chapter 8: Calpain activation by Ca2+ and its role in phagocytosis. Sharon Dewitt and Maurice B. Hallett
Chapter 9. : The NADPH oxidase and the phagosome. Hana Valenta, Marie Erard, Sophie Dupre-Crochet, Oliver Nu e
Chapter 10 : Conclusions and the future of phagocytosis. Maurice B. Hallett Index