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Immunometabolic Circuits in Infection for Advancing Host Directed Therapies
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Metabolic crosstalk between host and pathogen: sensing, adapting and competing
Andrew J Olive1, Christopher M Sassetti1
1Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655, USA.
Nature Reviews. Microbiology
|March 8, 2016
Summary
Metabolic crosstalk between host cells and pathogens is crucial for bacterial pathogenesis. Understanding these chemical signals and microbial pathways offers new insights into host-pathogen interactions.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Host-Pathogen Interactions
- Metabolic Signaling
Background:
- Current research on bacterial pathogenesis primarily focuses on host-pathogen cell biology.
- Metabolites in prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems share significant chemical similarities.
- Metabolic crosstalk between hosts and pathogens may be as vital as protein-level interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review host-pathogen interactions from a metabolic perspective.
- To highlight the role of chemical signaling in pathogen adaptation and immune evasion.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on metabolic interactions in host-pathogen systems.
- Analysis of chemical signaling events enabling pathogen sensing of host environment.
- Examination of microbial metabolic pathways involved in circumventing host immunity.
Main Results:
- Pathogens utilize metabolic crosstalk to sense host location and physiology.
- Microbial metabolic pathways are adapted to evade host immune responses.
- Specific metabolites represent key areas of competition between hosts and pathogens.
Conclusions:
- Metabolic interactions are a fundamental aspect of bacterial pathogenesis.
- Understanding metabolic crosstalk provides a deeper insight into host-pathogen dynamics.
- Targeting metabolic pathways could offer novel therapeutic strategies against bacterial infections.
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