FIG 1.

Trogocytosis is a broad, developing concept. In the central nervous system, microglia use trogocytosis to remodel neuronal synapses, and the parasite N. fowleri kills human cells through trogocytosis. Immune cells take bites out of other human cells. Bacteria such as F. tularensis exploit trogocytosis/merocytophagy to spread between cells. Macrophages can perform trogocytosis to kill antibody-opsonized cells. E. histolytica kills human cells by performing trogocytosis. Neutrophils kill T. vaginalis through trogocytosis. Primordial germ cells in C. elegans are nibbled by endodermal cells. D. caveatum kills other Dictyostelium species through trogocytosis. (Courtesy of Anita Impagliazzo, reproduced with permission.)