title: Role of innate host defenses in susceptibility to early-onset neonatal sepsis.
abstract: Neonatal sepsis continues to take a devastating toll globally. Although adequate to protect against invasive infection in most newborns, the distinct function of neonatal innate host defense coupled with impairments in adaptive immune responses increases the likelihood of acquiring infection early in life, with subsequent rapid dissemination and death. Unique differences exist between neonates and older populations with respect to the capacity, quantity, and quality of innate host responses to pathogens. Recent characterization of the age-dependent maturation of neonatal innate immune function has identified novel translational approaches that may lead to improved diagnostic, prophylactic, and therapeutic modalities.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, 2424 Hock Plaza, Suite 504, DUMC Box 2739, Durham, NC 27710, USA. james.wynn@duke.edu <james.wynn@duke.edu>
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wynn
authors.forename: Ofer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000276:immunology*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013997:Time Factors; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors