Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 1, 2026
08:33
Kinetic Visualization of Single-Cell Interspecies Bacterial Interactions
Published on: August 5, 2020
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Heterogeneity of bacterial host-pathogen interactions across biological scales
Juan Alfonso Redondo1, Niharika Purkait1, Pawel Paszek1,2,3
1Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
Msystems
|March 31, 2026
Summary
Cellular variability drives diverse infection outcomes in host-pathogen interactions. Understanding these single-cell dynamics is key to developing targeted antimicrobial strategies.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Systems Biology
Background:
- Single-cell technologies reveal host-pathogen interactions are dynamic and heterogeneous.
- Cellular variability within host and pathogen populations influences infection outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review how cellular variability impacts host-pathogen interactions at the single-cell level.
- To highlight technological advancements enabling single-cell resolution of these interactions.
- To discuss implications for antimicrobial strategies.
Main Methods:
- Microscopy
- Single-cell transcriptomics and proteomics
- Dual RNA-sequencing and spatial approaches
- Computational and mathematical modeling
Main Results:
- Cellular variability, influenced by stochastic gene expression and microenvironment, shapes immune responses.
- Distinct infection outcomes (clearance to persistence) arise from single-cell heterogeneity.
- Examples from Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis illustrate these principles.
Conclusions:
- Host-pathogen interaction outcomes depend on host state, bacterial features, and microenvironment.
- Integrating single-cell data with computational models links intracellular variability to pathogenesis.
- Controlling cellular variability offers potential for precise, context-dependent antimicrobial therapies.
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