title: Uracil debases pathogenic but not commensal bacteria.
abstract: The metazoan gut harbors microbial communities on its mucosal surfaces, yet the mechanisms by which gut immunity tolerates symbiotic and commensal bacteria while eliminating pathogens is insufficiently understood. In a recent Cell paper, Lee et al. (2013) show that bacterial uracil, not secreted by commensal bacteria, triggers dual oxidase-dependent immunity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Technology and BioMediTech, University of Tampere, Tampere 33014, Finland.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valanne
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Technology and BioMediTech, University of Tampere, Tampere 33014, Finland; Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere 33520, Finland. Electronic address: mika.ramet@uta.fi.
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rämet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D016973:Pectobacterium carotovorum / Q000502:physiology*; D013559:Symbiosis; D014498:Uracil / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014498:Uracil