Dietary zinc and the control of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007957
• Publication Date: 2019-08-22T17:25:52Z
• Authors: Bart A. Eijkelkamp; Jacqueline R. Morey; Stephanie L. Neville; Aimee Tan; Victoria G. Pederick; Nerida Cole; Prashina P. Singh; Cheryl-Lynn Y. Ong; Raquel Gonzalez d...; David Clases; Bliss A. Cunningham; Catherine E. Hughes; Iain Comerford; Erin B. Brazel; Jonathan J. Whittall; Charles D. Plumptre; Shaun R. McColl; James C. Paton; Alastair G. McEwan; Philip A. Doble; Christopher A. Mc...
• Keywords: Lung Diseases; 570; 572; QH301-705.5; Immunology; 2405 Parasitology; Microbiology; Pneumococcal Infections; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; 1311 Genetics; Virology; Genetics; 1312 Molecular Biology; Animals; Biology (General); Molecular Biology; 2403 Immunology; 0303 health sciences; Virulence; Animal; 2404 Microbiology; 600; RC581-607; 3. Good health; Disease Models, Animal; Zinc; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Disease Models; Dietary Supplements; 2406 Virology; Parasitology; Female; Immunologic diseases. Allergy; Research Article

Human zinc deficiency increases susceptibility to bacterial infection. Although supplementation therapies can reduce the impact of disease, molecular basis for protection remains unclear. Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause pneumonia, which prevalent in regions deficiency. We report that dietary levels dictate outcome S. infection murine model. Dietary restriction impacts tissue with distribution post-infection altered, and virulence enhanced. activation infiltration phagocytic cells was not affected by restriction, their efficacy control compromised. shown be highly sensitive intoxication, this process impaired restricted mice isolated cells. Collectively, these data show how sensitivity while revealing role as component host antimicrobial defences.