Inhibition of bacterial superoxide defense: A new front in the struggle between host and pathogen

摘要

Nutritional immunity is the name given to the sequestration of essential metals by vertebrates to limit growth of invading pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus. While iron sequestration is the canonical example of nutritional immunity, recent work has highlighted the importance of manganese and zinc sequestration by vertebrates in controlling both bacterial and fungal infections. Our laboratories are investigating the biochemical basis for the sequestration of essential metals and the impact of this nutrient deprivation on the physiology of S. aureus and other pathogens. We have shown that during staphylococcal infection the manganese and zinc binding protein calprotectin (CP) is a critical component of nutritional immunity. Furthermore, this neutrophil protein is required to render the staphylococcal abscess devoid of manganese. However, the structural features responsible for binding these metals were unknown as was the impact of this CP-induced nutrient deprivation on S. aureus.