opsonize

The alternative pathway is one of three complement pathways that opsonize and kill pathogens.

These proteins can bind to sugars on the surface of pathogens and thereby opsonize them for uptake by phagocytes.

It is part of the innate immune system and is used to opsonize bacterial cells in the alveoli marking them for phagocytosis by alveolar macrophages.

MBL can bind to microorganisms and this interaction can lead to opsonization through complement activation, or it can opsonize the microorganism directly.