Metals as phagocyte antimicrobial effectors.

Jessica R Sheldon, Eric P Skaar

Journal: Current opinion in immunology 2020;60():1-9

PMID: 31063946

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Abstract

Transition metal ions are essential to bacterial pathogens and their hosts alike but are harmful in excess. In an effort to curtail the replication of intracellular bacteria, host phagocytes exploit both the essentiality and toxicity of transition metals. In the paradigmatic description of nutritional immunity, iron and manganese are withheld from phagosomes to starve microbial invaders of these nutrients. Conversely, the destructive properties of copper and zinc appear to be harnessed by phagocytes, where these metals are delivered in excess to phagosomes to intoxicate internalized bacteria. Here, we briefly summarize key players in metal withholding from intracellular pathogens, before focusing on recent findings supporting the function of copper and zinc as phagocyte antimicrobial effectors. The mechanisms of copper and zinc toxicity are explored, along with strategies employed by intracellular bacterial pathogens to avoid killing by these metals.

Address: Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States.; Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States; Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2019.04.002

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MeSH Terms: Anti-Bacterial Agents, Bacteria, Copper, Phagocytes, Zinc