Immunometabolic Regulation of Bacterial Infection, Biofilms, and Antibiotic Susceptibility

Abstract: Background: Upon infection, mucosal tissues activate a brisk inflammatory response to clear the pathogen, i.e., resistance to disease. Resistance to disease is orchestrated by tissue-resident macrophages, which undergo profound metabolic reprogramming after sensing the pathogen. These metabolically activated macrophages release many inflammatory factors, which promote their bactericidal function. However, in immunocompetent individuals, pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella evade this type of immunity, generating communities that thrive for the long term. Summary: These organisms develop features that render them less susceptible to eradication, such as biofilms and increased tolerance to antibiotics. Furthermore, after antibiotic therapy withdrawal, “persister” cells rapidly upsurge, triggering inflammatory relapses that worsen host health. How these pathogens persisted in inflamed tissues replete with activated macrophages remains poorly understood. Key Messages: In this review, we discuss recent findings indicating that the ability of P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and Salmonella to evolve biofilms and antibiotic tolerance is promoted by the similar metabolic routes that regulate macrophage metabolic reprogramming.
The use of antibiotics to eradicate infections is the most important molecular tool in clinics to treat infectious diseases. However, certain pathogens circumvent antimicrobial therapy by exploiting components of host immunity to thrive, such as metabolites released by inflammatory cells. In this work, we review recent findings describing strategies used by sophisticated opportunists to co-opt the host metabolic response to infection to cope with the pressure imposed by antibiotics, such as by producing both biofilms and different molecules that enhance their attachment to mucosal tissues.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Immunometabolic Regulation of Bacterial Infection, Biofilms, and Antibiotic Susceptibility ; volume:16 ; number:1 ; year:2024 ; pages:143-158 ; extent:16 ; Journal of innate immunity ; 16, Heft 1 (2024), 143-158 (gesamt 16)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Chen, Ying-Tsun ; Lohia, Gaurav Kumar ; Chen, Samantha ; Riquelme, Sebastián A.

Further information

• DOI: 10.1159/000536649
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2406060118092.310437147321
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:55 AM CEST