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The Iron age of host-microbe interactions

Miguel P Soares1, Günter Weiss2

  • 1Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal mpsoares@igc.gulbenkian.pt guenter.weiss@i-med.ac.at.

EMBO Reports
|October 18, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Host adaptive responses regulating iron metabolism influence resistance and disease tolerance to microbial infections. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for managing infectious diseases and maintaining health.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions

Background:

  • Microbes significantly impact human health, causing disease by disrupting homeostasis.
  • Host defense strategies involve resistance (harming microbes) and disease tolerance (maintaining homeostasis).
  • The integration of these distinct host defense strategies remains incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore how host adaptive responses in iron (Fe) metabolism affect resistance and disease tolerance to infection.
  • To elucidate the general principles governing the interplay between iron metabolism and host defense.

Main Methods:

  • The study explores general principles of host adaptive responses.
  • Focuses on the role of iron (Fe) metabolism in infection outcomes.
  • Integrates concepts of resistance and disease tolerance mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Host adaptive responses regulating iron metabolism are key determinants of infection outcomes.
  • Iron metabolism influences both the host's ability to resist infection and tolerate disease.
  • These responses are functionally integrated, impacting overall host defense.

Conclusions:

  • Host iron metabolism plays a critical role in modulating resistance and disease tolerance to microbial infections.
  • Understanding these adaptive responses offers insights into managing infectious diseases.
  • Further research into the integration mechanisms is warranted.
Keywords:
anemia of chronic diseasedisease tolerancehemeironmacrophagenutritional immunitytissue damage control

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