Trimming the fat: a brief review of lipids at the host-pathogen interface

Microbial-derived lipids and the host receptors that bind them are collectively critical for immune regulation on the host side and for a multitude of biological functions on the microbial side, including membrane structure, energy generation, resistance to stress, and, importantly, virulence. Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and eukaryotic microorganisms comprise common and unique lipid species that can be modified to avoid immune detection and aid in antimicrobial resistance. Moreover, the host receptors that interact with lipids are equally diverse in their structure and function, driving both beneficial and pathogenic responses depending on the location, strength, and duration of signaling. The following review will discuss all the aforementioned aspects of lipids at the host-pathogen interface, which should be expanded upon in future studies to develop novel therapeutics that consider lipids as distinct immune modulators.