Final answer:
Chemotaxis refers to the directional movement of cells in response to chemical stimuli. Phagocyte chemotaxis involves phagocytes moving towards chemicals released by infected cells and destroying ingested bacteria through enzymes and toxic chemicals. This process is integral to the body's defense mechanism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chemotaxis is the movement of a cell towards or away from a chemical stimulus. In the context of the immune system, phagocyte chemotaxis is a critical process where phagocytes move towards these chemicals to identify and destroy invading microbes, such as bacteria. Once a phagocyte engulfs a bacterium, it employs an arsenal of destructive enzymes and toxic chemicals to kill and digest the pathogen within specialized compartments known as phagolysosomes. This cellular behavior is vital for the body’s innate immune response and helps to prevent infections from spreading.
Injured or infected cells and nearby leukocytes release chemical signals that serve as a “911” call, attracting more phagocytes to the site of the infection or injury through positive chemotaxis. These chemicals may include interleukins and other chemokines. The release of such chemicals initiates an inflammation process whereby blood vessels become leaky, allowing leukocytes along with complement proteins and other defensive entities to access the infected tissue for pathogen destruction and tissue repair.