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Updated: Jan 6, 2026

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Conceptual Foundations of Cell Mortality.

Pierre M Durand1,2, Grant Ramsey3

  • 1Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology
|September 22, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

New research questions microbial cell death definitions. An evolutionary concept of programmed cell death (PCD) is foundational for all life, guiding a unified framework for cell mortality.

Keywords:
ConceptsDefinitionsEndogenous cell deathEvolutionMicrobialMortalityProgrammed cell deathUnicellular

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Current microbial cell death terminologies lack consensus.
  • Diverse meanings of terms lead to varied explanations of similar findings.
  • New insights from life sciences, philosophy, and sociology challenge existing concepts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review key terms and concepts in microbial cell death and mortality.
  • To address the ambiguity in defining programmed cell death (PCD).
  • To propose an evolutionary framework for understanding cell mortality.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of microbial cell death concepts.
  • Analysis of existing terminologies and definitions.
  • Discussion of endogenous vs. exogenous death and PCD.

Main Results:

  • Programmed cell death (PCD) definitions are contentious.
  • An evolutionary concept of PCD is proposed as foundational across all life.
  • Mechanistic, developmental, and ecological definitions are useful but not fundamental.

Conclusions:

  • Clarifying cell death and mortality concepts is crucial.
  • An evolutionary perspective provides a unifying framework for PCD.
  • Establishing clear definitions is essential for an overarching cell mortality framework.