phagocytosis, recognition
The initial step in phagocytosis involving adhesion to bacteria, immune complexes and other particulate matter, or an apoptotic cell and based on recognition of factors such as bacterial cell wall components, opsonins like complement and antibody or protein receptors and lipids like phosphatidyl serine, and leading to intracellular signaling in the phagocytosing cell.
GO:0008037
cell recognition
is_a
GO:0006909
phagocytosis
part_of
recognition of phagocytosed substance by phagocytic cell
exact