Oxidative stress and intracellular infections: more iron to the fire.
The immune system's battle against pathogens includes the "respiratory burst," a rapid release of ROS from leukocytes, thought to play a role in destroying the invading species. In this issue of the JCI, Paiva et al. demonstrate that oxidative stress actually enhances infection with the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, by a mechanism that may involve facilitating parasite access to iron. Their findings suggest a novel direction for the development of drugs against intracellular parasites.
Norma W
NW
Andrews
D000818:Animals; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000469:parasitology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000469:parasitology*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000502:physiology*