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Updated: Nov 15, 2025

Using Mycobacterium smegmatis as a Bioindicator for Zinc-Limited Growth Conditions in Mycobacteria
Published on: September 20, 2024
Zinc is an important inter-kingdom signal between the host and microbe
Pengpeng Xia1,2,3, Siqi Lian4,5,6, Yunping Wu4,5,6
1College of Veterinary Medicine (Institute of Comparative Medicine), Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China. ppxia@yzu.edu.cn.
Abstract:
Zinc (Zn) is an essential trace element in living organisms and plays a vital role in the regulation of both microbial virulence and host immune responses. A growing number of studies have shown that zinc deficiency or the internal Zn concentration does not meet the needs of animals and microbes, leading to an imbalance in zinc homeostasis and intracellular signalling pathway dysregulation. Competition for zinc ions (Zn2+) between microbes and the host exists in the use of Zn2+ to maintain cell structure and physiological functions. It also affects the interplay between microbial virulence factors and their specific receptors in the host. This review will focus on the role of Zn in the crosstalk between the host and microbe, especially for changes in microbial pathogenesis and nociceptive neuron-immune interactions, as it may lead to new ways to prevent or treat microbial infections.
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