Chapter 2: Kill the bacteria...and also their messengers?
We consider here a previously neglected aspect of recovery from infectious diseases: how animals dispose of the dead microbes in their tissues. For one of the most important disease-causing microorganisms, Gram-negative bacteria, there is now evidence that the host catabolism of a key microbial molecule is essential for full recovery. As might be expected, it is the same bacterial molecule that animals sense to detect the presence of Gram-negative bacteria in their tissues, the cell wall lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Here, we discuss current knowledge about LPS sensing with emphasis on the host enzyme that inactivates this microbial "messenger" molecule. We also consider the possibility that the rate at which stimulatory microbial molecules undergo inactivation may influence the duration and severity of diseases caused by other infectious agents.
Munford
Robert
R
Department of Internal Medicine, UT-Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
Lu
Mingfang
M
Varley
Alan
A
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; C048964:acyloxyacyl hydrolase