Innate recognition of bacteria: potential therapeutic targets for bacterial sepsis

Sepsis is a paradoxical and complex disorder that results from an over-reaction of our innate immune system to bacterial infections. Although this disorder has been known since ancient times, the history of clinical research into novel therapies for sepsis has been disappointing. The inability to translate our findings to the clinic could be attributed to our lack of knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in sensing microbial pathogens. However, in the last decade, the innate immune sensors responsible for triggering this disease have been discovered. This review will examine mediators that have been targeted in the past, as well as in the present, and propose novel therapeutic interventions for the future.