Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

Investigation of Microbial Cooperation via Imaging Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Bacterial Colonies Grown on Agar and in Tissue During Infection
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
PubMed

Insights

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.

More Related Videos

Coincubation Assay for Quantifying Competitive Interactions between Vibrio fischeri Isolates07:43

Coincubation Assay for Quantifying Competitive Interactions between Vibrio fischeri Isolates

Published on: July 22, 2019

Digital PCR-based Competitive Index for High-throughput Analysis of Fitness in Salmonella07:11

Digital PCR-based Competitive Index for High-throughput Analysis of Fitness in Salmonella

Published on: May 13, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Microbial Interactions: Competition01:26

Microbial Interactions: Competition

Microbial competition is an ecological interaction in which microorganisms vie for limited resources within shared environments. These resources may include nutrients, space, or light, depending on the system. The intensity and outcome of competition are influenced by the environmental context, such as nutrient availability, spatial constraints, and the diversity of microbial species present. These competitive interactions significantly influence the structure, function, and resilience of...
Microbial Interactions: Parasitism01:22

Microbial Interactions: Parasitism

Parasitism is a form of microbial interaction in which parasitic microbes exploit a host organism for nutrients and shelter, often at the host's expense. Unlike mutualistic relationships, where both organisms benefit, parasitism benefits only the parasite and harms the host.Classification of ParasitesMicrobial parasites are broadly classified based on their location relative to the host.Ectoparasites remain on the host’s surface, such as the skin or outer tissues, drawing nutrients...
Microbial Interactions: Cooperation01:26

Microbial Interactions: Cooperation

Microbial cooperation involves beneficial interactions in which different species work together for individual or mutual advantage. These interactions can profoundly influence ecological dynamics and evolutionary processes, and they are essential to many pathogenic and symbiotic relationships.Nematode–Bacteria CooperationA striking example is the relationship between the Gram-negative bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila and the parasitic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae. Juvenile nematodes...
Colonisation of Pathogens01:25

Colonisation of Pathogens

Pathogen colonization of host tissues is a critical step in the development of infectious diseases. Various pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa, have evolved complex strategies to attach to, invade, and persist within host environments. These mechanisms enable pathogens to establish infections, evade immune responses, and resist antimicrobial treatments.Attachment to Host CellsIn bacteria, colonization typically begins with adherence to host epithelial...
Transduction01:16

Transduction

Among the three main modes of HGT—transformation, conjugation, and transduction—transduction is unique in that it is mediated by bacteriophages, or bacterial viruses.Transduction occurs in two ways. Generalized transduction occurs during the lytic cycle of a bacteriophage infection. In this process, bacteriophages infect bacterial cells, replicate within them, and ultimately cause cell lysis, releasing newly assembled virions. Occasionally, random fragments of the bacterial genome are...
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens01:31

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...