{
  "abstract": "Macrophages are central to immune homeostasis, clearing both pathogens and apoptotic cells. While these processes share some features, they differ functionally: efferocytosis of apoptotic cells is typically anti-inflammatory, whereas bacterial uptake triggers strong inflammatory responses. During infections, both targets may coexist, yet how macrophages handle such complex particles is poorly understood. Previously, we showed that Pseudomonas aeruginosa adheres to apoptotic cells, forming stable composites that can be jointly phagocytosed. Here, using quantitative confocal and live-cell imaging, we investigate how macrophages engage and internalize these dual targets. We find that macrophages employ distinct strategies depending on target composition. Apoptotic cells alone are engulfed intact within tight, actin-rich membrane cups, whereas bacteria-laden apoptotic cells induce protrusive, actin-driven extensions that navigate along the apoptotic scaffold to access bacteria. Individual bacteria are selectively extracted and internalized, while apoptotic material is internalized in a piecemeal manner. Early phagosome analysis shows that most contain either bacteria or apoptotic material alone, with mixed cargo being less frequent. These findings demonstrate that macrophages can discriminate and sort the components of complex targets during uptake. This work provides a framework for understanding how innate immune cells integrate pathogen clearance while managing apoptotic material.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina",
    "Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (EByN), Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Celeste Dea"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Paula Arias"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sol L. Moroni"
    },
    {
      "name": "Nicolás N. Rolandelli"
    },
    {
      "name": "Arlinet Kierbel"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6eyjhfbyb78wh.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0356679",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "6eyjhfbyb78wh",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0356679",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2403|Phagocytosis and Immune Regulation"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Cell biology/Cell processes/Cell death/Apoptosis"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Cell biology/Cell processes/Phagocytosis"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Cell biology/Cellular structures and organelles/Cell membranes"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Cell biology/Cellular structures and organelles/Cytoskeleton/Microtubules"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Cell biology/Cellular structures and organelles/Vesicles"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Cell biology/Cellular types/Animal cells/Blood cells/White blood cells/Macrophages"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Cell biology/Cellular types/Animal cells/Immune cells/White blood cells/Macrophages"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Immunology/Immune cells/White blood cells/Macrophages"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Medical microbiology/Microbial pathogens/Bacterial pathogens/Pseudomonas aeruginosa"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Bacteria"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Bacteria/Pseudomonas/Pseudomonas aeruginosa"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Immunology/Immune cells/White blood cells/Macrophages"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Pathology and laboratory medicine/Pathogens/Microbial pathogens/Bacterial pathogens/Pseudomonas aeruginosa"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7220851883",
  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0356679&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-07",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6eyjhfbyb78wh.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:30Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0356679",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0356679"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:cell biology",
      "subfield": "cell-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Macrophages discriminate and sort pathogenic bacteria and apoptotic material during dual-target phagocytosis",
  "title_text": "Macrophages discriminate and sort pathogenic bacteria and apoptotic material during dual-target phagocytosis",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:30Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6eyjhfbyb78wh",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
  "versions": []
}