[Overcoming Sepsis]

Sepsis is defined as "a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection" and is one of the most frequent causes of death worldwide. In 2020, the World Health Organization released their first global report on sepsis: "Global Report on the Epidemiology and Burden of Sepsis." This report recommended inclusion of sepsis in all public health efforts such as national action plans. Bacteria, viruses and fungi can all cause sepsis, but bacteria are the most common cause. Bacterial endotoxin, the major cell wall component of Gram-negative bacteria, triggers massive systemic inflammation and plays a pivotal role in sepsis pathogenesis. Targeting endotoxin has thus long been a major therapeutic strategy for treating sepsis. Sepsis due to Gram-positive bacteria occurs at a similar rate as that for Gram-negative bacteria, but the causative agents of Gram-positive sepsis remain poorly understood. A variety of microbial components trigger distinctive inflammation by acting as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), which are recognized by specific pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) on host immune cells. Due to the often-fast progression of sepsis, rapid and accurate identification of its causative agents is crucial for effective treatment. This review provides an overview of the author's research for overcoming sepsis.