Animation of Phagocytosis by Unenhanced Attachment
(PAMPs Binding to Endocytic Pattern-Recognition Receptors)

Unenhanced attachment is a general recognition of what are called pathogen-associated molecular patterns or PAMPs- components of common molecules such as peptidoglycan, teichoic acids, lipopolysaccharide, mannans, and glucans common in microbial cell walls but not found on human cells - by means of glycoproteins known as endocytic pattern-recognition receptors on the surface of the phagocytes. Following attachment, polymerization and then depolymerization of actin filaments send pseudopods out to engulf the microbe and place it in a vesicle called a phagosome. Finally, lysosomes, containing digestive enzymes and microbicidal chemicals, fuse with the phagosome containing the ingested microbe and the microbe is destroyed.