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Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Using a Bacterial Pathogen to Probe for Cellular and Organismic-level Host Responses
Published on: February 22, 2019
Host tolerance versus resistance and microbial virulence in the host-pathogen equation
1UPR 9022 du CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Strasbourg Cedex, France. d.ferrandon@ibmc.u-strasbg.fr
Organisms fight infection using resistance or tolerance. This study reveals p38-mediated phagocytic encapsulation as a key tolerance mechanism, helping organisms withstand pathogen damage.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Organisms employ resistance (pathogen neutralization/destruction) and tolerance (withstanding damage) to combat infections.
- Tolerance mechanisms are crucial for host survival when resistance fails.
Discussion:
- Shinzawa et al. uncover p38-mediated phagocytic encapsulation as a novel tolerance strategy.
- This mechanism allows the host to contain pathogens without necessarily eliminating them.
Key Insights:
- Phagocytic encapsulation, regulated by p38 signaling, represents a distinct host defense pathway.
- Identifying tolerance mechanisms provides new avenues for therapeutic interventions.
Outlook:
- Further research into p38-mediated pathways could reveal new therapeutic targets.
- Understanding tolerance is vital for developing treatments against persistent or drug-resistant infections.
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