The germ theory revisited: A noncentric view on infection outcome

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Carlsson, Fredric; Raberg, Lars
• 署名单位: Lund University
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-13709
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2319605121
• 发表日期: 2024-04-23
• 关键词: streptococcus-pyogenes; m-protein; virulence; binding; phagocytosis; EVOLUTION; HISTORY; region; endos; c4bp

摘要

The germ theory states that pathogenic microorganisms are responsible for causing infectious diseases. The theory is inherently microbe- centric and does not account for variability in disease severity among individuals and asymptomatic carriership-two phenomena indicating an important role for host variability in infection outcome. The basic tenet of the germ theory was recently challenged, and a radically host- centric paradigm referred to as the full- blown host theory was proposed. According to this view, the pathogen is reduced to a passive environmental trigger, and the development of disease is instead due to pre- existing immunodeficiencies of the host. Here, we consider the factors that determine disease severity using established knowledge concerning evolutionary biology, microbial pathogenesis, and host-pathogen interactions. We note that the available data support a noncentric view that recognizes key roles for both the causative microbe and the host in dictating infection outcome.