Re: waht is the difference between phagocytosis and endocytosis?

According to "The World of the Cell" (by Becker & Deamer, 2nd ed), 
endocytosis describes the general process of a cell internalizing material 
that is present outside of the cell (i.e. extra-cellular material) through 
the invagination of the plasma membrane.  Endocytosis can refer to 
receptor-mediated endocytosis, pinocytosis or phagocytosis.  Of these three 
processes, phagocytosis is generally used to describe the cellular 
"ingestion" of large particulate matter (e.g. bacteria or viruses). Indeed 
phagocytosis is often equated with "cell eating".  Receptor-mediated 
endocytosis and pinocytosis typically involve the uptake of smaller 
materials.  Perhaps more pertinent to your interests, phagocytosis is a 
term commonly used by immunologists to describe macrophage ingestion of 
bacteria or viruses.  Thus, in the context of immunology, phagocytosis is 
the specific and accepted terminology to describe "ingestion" of pathogens. 
While endocytosis might be technically correct, it is not commonly used to 
describe pathogen "ingestion".
 
Hope that helps.

ETC


PS  You can also check out some sites on phagocytosis and pathogens by 
searching the web.   One example is at 

http://www.comet.chv.va.us/QUILL/mac.html-ssi