Phagocytes are attracted to a site of infection or inflammation by biochemical messengers. The killing process is usually confined to the intracellular vacuole which encloses the pathogen. One of these processes works by way of fusion with another vacuole which is filled with special enzymes and toxic agents that will kill and digest the bacteria. Macrophages and neutrophil granulocytes also have the capacity to take up oxygen and generate reactive oxygen containing molecules to kill bacterial pathogens inside the vacuole. Phagocytosis is facilitated if the bacteria are being coated with complement proteins or antibodies .
Antibodies are part of the specific immunity .
The specific immune components are more sophisticated, having the ability to learn, to adapt, and to memorise. Therefore, people overcoming a specific infection can develop acquired immunity, which means that from then on they are protected against that particular disease, e.g. German measles or small pox. These skills of our immune system are used for vaccination techniques.