Phagocytes ingest, kill and degrade invading microbes in a process called phagocytosis. LC3-associated phagocytosis (LAP) combines the molecular machinery of phagocytosis with that of autophagy, the cellular pathway for ingestion of cytoplasmic components, resulting in the eponymous association of ‘microtubule-associated proteins 1 A/1B light chain 3’ (LC3) with the phagosomal membrane. The LC3-decorated phagosomes, or LAPosomes, show enhanced fusion with lysosomes resulting in enhanced killing and degradation of contained pathogens. Thus, LAP is a particularly microbicidal pathway. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms involved in induction and execution of LAP and its crucial role in antimicrobial immunity against bacteria, fungi and parasites. As LAP has only recently been defined, we also point out the key open questions that remain to be answered.

吞噬细胞以吞噬作用摄取，杀死和降解入侵的微生物。LC3相关的吞噬作用（LAP）将吞噬作用的分子机制与自噬（吞噬细胞质成分的细胞途径）结合在一起，从而导致``微管相关蛋白1 A / 1B轻链3''（LC3）与吞噬膜。LC3修饰的吞噬体或LAPosomes与溶酶体融合性增强，导致所含病原体的杀灭和降解增强。因此，LAP是特别的杀微生物途径。在这篇综述中，我们讨论了诱导和执行LAP的分子机制及其在针对细菌，真菌和寄生虫的抗微生物免疫中的关键作用。由于LAP直到最近才被定义，