Phagocytes recognize pathogens through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that detect pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Once a pathogen is recognized, the phagocyte engulfs it in a process called phagocytosis. The engulfed material is enclosed in a phagosome, which fuses with a lysosome to form a phagolysosome where the pathogen is degraded by enzymes.
