Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2026

Design of Cecal Ligation and Puncture and Intranasal Infection Dual Model of Sepsis-Induced Immunosuppression
07:30

Design of Cecal Ligation and Puncture and Intranasal Infection Dual Model of Sepsis-Induced Immunosuppression

Published on: June 15, 2019

Decoding Host-Pathogen Dynamics in Klebsiella pneumoniae Infections: Mechanisms of Cell Death Regulation and

Shwetha Susan Thomas1, Krishnakripa Kannan1, Kuniyil Abhinand1

  • 1School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, Kollam 690525, Kerala, India.

Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 27, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) exploits host immunity, causing sepsis. Targeting cell death pathways offers novel host-directed therapies against Kp infections, but clinical translation needs more evidence.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Pathogen-host interactions

Background:

  • Pathogenic microbes, including Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp), employ virulence factors to evade host immune responses.
  • The rise of multidrug-resistant and hypervirulent Kp strains presents a significant global health challenge.
  • Understanding Kp's interaction with host innate immunity is crucial for developing effective treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify critical knowledge gaps in the interplay between Kp and host innate immunity.
  • To provide a comprehensive overview of Kp-induced cell death mechanisms.
  • To explore immunomodulatory strategies as potential host-directed therapies against Kp-induced sepsis.

Main Methods:

  • Critical evaluation of existing literature on Kp virulence and host immune responses.
  • Review of mechanisms by which Kp triggers various forms of host cell death.
  • Analysis of dysregulated cell death's role in sepsis pathogenesis.

Main Results:

  • Kp subverts host immunity through various virulence strategies.
  • Dysregulated cell death induced by Kp can lead to excessive cytokine release and hyperinflammation, characteristic of sepsis.
  • Antimicrobial resistance in Kp necessitates alternative therapeutic strategies.

Conclusions:

  • Immunomodulatory approaches targeting cell death regulators or immune checkpoints show promise as host-directed therapies against Kp sepsis.
  • Novel immunotherapies could help restore immune balance during Kp infections.
  • Clinical application of these immunotherapies is currently limited by insufficient translational evidence.
Keywords:
Klebsiella pneumoniaecell deathhost-directed therapyhost–pathogen interactionsinnate immunitysepsis

More Related Videos

Cecal Ligation Puncture Procedure11:53

Cecal Ligation Puncture Procedure

Published on: May 7, 2011

Using a Bacterial Pathogen to Probe for Cellular and Organismic-level Host Responses08:38

Using a Bacterial Pathogen to Probe for Cellular and Organismic-level Host Responses

Published on: February 22, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Determinants of Bacterial Pathogenicity and Virulence01:20

Determinants of Bacterial Pathogenicity and Virulence

Pathogenic bacteria employ a variety of strategies to establish infections, including the secretion of extracellular enzymes that act as potent virulence factors. These enzymes facilitate bacterial colonization of host tissues and help evade immune surveillance. By targeting structural components of host tissues and interfering with immune mechanisms, these enzymes play a pivotal role in disease progression.Extracellular Enzymes Facilitating Tissue Invasion: Several bacterial pathogens secrete...
Colonisation of Pathogens01:25

Colonisation of Pathogens

Pathogen colonization of host tissues is a critical step in the development of infectious diseases. Various pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa, have evolved complex strategies to attach to, invade, and persist within host environments. These mechanisms enable pathogens to establish infections, evade immune responses, and resist antimicrobial treatments.Attachment to Host CellsIn bacteria, colonization typically begins with adherence to host epithelial...
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing01:28

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
Regulation of Bacterial Virulence01:28

Regulation of Bacterial Virulence

Pathogenic bacteria employ a range of regulatory mechanisms to modulate the expression of virulence genes in response to environmental and host-derived signals. These mechanisms ensure that virulence factors are expressed only under favorable conditions, thereby optimizing infection and survival strategies.Mechanisms of Virulence RegulationKey regulatory strategies include:Two-Component Systems: These consist of a membrane-bound sensor kinase and a cytoplasmic response regulator. Environmental...
Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology01:29

Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology

The pathophysiology of pneumonia involves the following steps:
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens01:31

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...