New Publication from Bosmann Lab

Bacterial polyphosphates interfere with the innate host defense to infection

Polyphosphates are linear polymers of inorganic phosphate residues that are ubiquitous in living organisms. The recent publication from Dr. Bosmann and colleagues in Nature Communications highlights that long polyphosphates from bacteria are mediators of death in sepsis. Bacterial polyphosphates interfere with multiple functions of macrophages. Neutralization of polyphosphates by recombinant exopolyphosphatase improves sepsis survival and restores a protective host immune response.

Roewe J, Stavrides G, Strueve M, Sharma A, Marini F, Mann A, Smith SA, Kaya Z, Strobl B, Mueller M, Reinhardt C, Morrissey JH, Bosmann M. Bacterial polyphosphates interfere with the innate host defense to infection. Nat Commun. 2020 Aug 12;11(1):4035. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-17639-x. PMID: 32788578; PMCID: PMC7423913.