A nutritive view on the host-pathogen interplay.
The interaction between pathogenic microbes and their host is determined by survival strategies on both sides, including competition for essential nutrients. During evolution, pathogenic microbes developed ways to access certain nutrients from the host, which, by contrast, can be exploited by the host for defence by restricting the availability of these nutrients. In this article, we review ecological aspects of the host-pathogen relationship and describe examples for competitive nutrient usage. We also discuss the beneficial probiotic microbes of the mammalian gut, which influence their environment including inflammatory host responses, and how they might be supported by prebiotic diets.
Max-Planck-Institute for Infection Biology, Department of Immunology, Schumannstrasse 21-22, D-10117 Berlin, Germany. schaible@mpiib-berlin.mpg.de
Ulrich E
UE
Schaible
Stefan H E
SH
Kaufmann
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005658:Fungi / Q000378:metabolism*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D009711:Nucleotides / Q000378:metabolism; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000378:metabolism; D013559:Symbiosis
D000596:Amino Acids; D005227:Fatty Acids; D009711:Nucleotides; D007501:Iron