ANTIMICROBIAL FUNCTIONS OF MONONUCLEAR PHAGOCYTES

One of the major functions of mononuclear phagocytes, i.e., monocytes and macrophages, is the phagocytosis and killing of microorganisms. To obtain more insight into the pathogenesis of infectious diseases and to develop new therapies against these diseases, a better understandin g of the antimicrobial mechanisms employed by mononuclear phagocytes i s essential. The present review gives a short description of the monon uclear phagocyte system and summarizes various methods that are used t o study the antimicrobial mechanisms of mononuclear phagocytes.