Immunobiology 214 (2009) 562–5 C-type lectins and phagocytosis

To recognise and respond to pathogens, germ-line encoded pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) bind to conserved Phagocytosis is an actin-dependent mechanism by awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1908 for his discovery. One hundred years later, membrane-bound. These PRRs recognise conserved microbial structures, such as bacterial lipopolysacchar-ide or fungal b-glucans, that are known as pathogen ARTICLE IN PRESS protease; MBL, mannose binding lectin; MR, mannose receptor; PAMP, pathogen associated molecular pattern; PRR, pattern recog-nition receptor; PTX, pentraxin; SP, surfactant protein; TLR, toll-like receptor. associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) (Janeway and Medzhitov, 2002). Soluble PRRs include the collectins, 0171-2985/r 2008 Elsevier GmbH. Open access under CC BY license. doi:10.1016/j.imbio.2008.11.00