Phagocytosis is the central process by which macrophage cellsinternalize and eliminate infectious microbes as well as apoptoticcells. During maturation, phagosomes containing engulfed particlesfuse with various endosomal compartments through theaction of regulatory molecules on the phagosomal membrane. Inthis study, we performed a proteomic analysis of the membranefraction from latex bead-containing (LBC) phagosomes isolatedfrom macrophages. The profile, which comprised 546 proteins, suggests diverse functions of the phagosome and potential connectionsto secretory processes, toll-like receptor signaling, andautophagy. Many identified proteins were not previously knownto reside in the phagosome. We characterized several proteins inLBC phagosomes that change in abundance on induction of autophagy, a process that has been previously implicated in the hostdefense against microbial pathogens. These observations suggestcrosstalk between autophagy and phagocytosis that may be relevantto the innate immune response of macrophages.

Autophagy and Signaling is an up-to-date overview of the many signaling pathways regulating autophagy in response to different cellular needs. Discussion includes the status and future directions of autophagy signaling research with respect to different aspects of health and disease. These include the roles of autophagy in regulating cell fate, immune response and host defense, nutrient sensing and metabolism, neural functions and homeostasis. The mechanisms and significance of cross-talk between autophagy and other cellular processes is also explored. Lastly, alterations in autophagy observed in aging and age-related pathologies are described.

International Review of Cell and Molecular Biology presents current advances and comprehensive reviews in cell biology--both plant and animal. Articles address structure and control of gene expression, nucleocytoplasmic interactions, control of cell development and differentiation, and cell transformation and growth. Impact factor for 2009: 6.088. Authored by some of the foremost scientists in the field Provides up-to-date information and directions for future research Valuable reference material for advanced undergraduates, graduate students and professional scientists

This book advances the knowledge of the mechanism development of a lived organism during its lifetime through the normal stationary state and quasi-stationary pathologic state from the viewpoints of biochemistry, biophysics, and thermodynamics. It explores the possibility of estimating experimental results from the three points of view, giving a broad perspective on the interaction between an organism and its environment. The book also describes the biophysical and biochemical mechanisms’ maintenance stability of internal energy according to the First and Second Law of Thermodynamics.

This book provides up-to-date information on the crucial interaction of pathogenic bacteria and professional phagocytes, the host cells whose purpose is to ingest, kill, and digest bacteria in defense against infection. The introductory chapters focus on the receptors used by professional phagocytes to recognize and phagocytose bacteria, and the signal transduction events that are essential for phagocytosis of bacteria. Subsequent chapters discuss specific bacterial pathogens and the strategies they use in confronting professional phagocytes. Examples include Helicobacter pylori, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Yersinae, each of which uses distinct mechanisms to avoid being phagocytosed and killed. Contrasting examples include Listeria monocytogenes and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which survive and replicate intracellularly, and actually cooperate with phagocytes to promote their entry into these cells. Together, the contributions in this book provide an outstanding review of current knowledge regarding the mechanisms of phagocytosis and how specific pathogenic bacteria avoid or exploit these mechanisms.

Although cell fusion is an omnipresent process in life, to date considerably less is still known about the mechanisms and the molecules being involved in this biological phenomenon in higher organisms. In Cell Fusion in Health and Disease Vol 1 & Vol 2 leading experts will present up-to-date overviews about cell fusion in physiological and patho-physiological processes, which further covers the current knowledge about cell fusion-mediating molecules. Volume 1 deals with Cell Fusion in Health and will cover aspects of cell fusion in fertilization, placentation, in C. elegans, in skeletal muscle development and tissue repair, and the use of cell fusion for cellular reprogramming and cancer vaccine development. Volume 2 focuses on Cell Fusion in Disease with a particular emphasis on the role of cell fusion in cancer development and progression. Thus, Cell Fusion in Health and Disease Vol 1 & Vol 2 represents a state-of-the-art work for researchers, physicians or professionals being interested in the biological phenomenon of cell fusion and beyond.