Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 6, 2026

Metal-Limited Growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae for Characterization of Metal-Responsive Genes and Metal Acquisition from Host Ligands
Published on: March 4, 2020
Essential metals at the host-pathogen interface: nutritional immunity and micronutrient assimilation by human fungal
Aaron Crawford1, Duncan Wilson2
1Aberdeen Fungal Group, School of Medical Sciences, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK.
Abstract:
The ability of pathogenic microorganisms to assimilate sufficient nutrients for growth within their hosts is a fundamental requirement for pathogenicity. However, certain trace nutrients, including iron, zinc and manganese, are actively withheld from invading pathogens in a process called nutritional immunity. Therefore, successful pathogenic species must have evolved specialized mechanisms in order to adapt to the nutritionally restrictive environment of the host and cause disease. In this review, we discuss recent advances which have been made in our understanding of fungal iron and zinc acquisition strategies and nutritional immunity against fungal infections, and explore the mechanisms of micronutrient uptake by human pathogenic fungi.
Related Concept Videos
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia
Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles
Microbial Nutrition
Colonisation of Pathogens
Microbial Interactions: Parasitism
Antimicrobial Proteins
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...

