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Updated: May 23, 2026
09:49
Investigation of Microbial Cooperation via Imaging Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Bacterial Colonies Grown on Agar and in Tissue During Infection
Published on: November 18, 2022
Infectious (Non)tolerance--frustrated commensalism gone awry?
Jesse C Nussbaum1, Richard M Locksley
1Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 94143, USA.
Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology
|March 30, 2012
Summary
Infectious diseases cause significant global health issues. Understanding the host-pathogen dialogue, especially with commensal flora, may reveal new ways to control inflammation and tissue damage.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Pathogenesis
Background:
- Infectious diseases are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally.
- Pathogens can trigger host inflammation, leading to diverse diseases from sepsis to cancer.
- Pathogens share molecular features with harmless commensal microbes, complicating host-pathogen interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the complex dialogue between multicellular hosts and their commensal flora.
- To understand how this dialogue influences host immune responses and disease outcomes.
- To identify novel therapeutic targets for controlling inflammation and tissue damage in infectious diseases.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing mouse models and simpler organisms to study host-commensal flora interactions.
- Analyzing the molecular mechanisms underlying host-pathogen and host-commensal dialogues.
- Investigating the concept of 'frustrated commensalism' in persistent inflammatory diseases.
Main Results:
- Commensal flora engage in cooperative interactions with the host immune system, promoting immunotolerance.
- Pathogen interactions can lead to 'frustrated commensalism,' characterized by incomplete dialogue and persistent inflammation.
- The host immune system's response is critical in differentiating between pathogenic and commensal microbes.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the molecular basis of host-microbe dialogue is crucial for managing infectious diseases.
- Novel strategies targeting this dialogue could offer new avenues for controlling inflammation and preventing organ damage.
- Further research into host-pathogen and host-commensal interactions is warranted for therapeutic advancements.
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