Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark (FBL) is published by IMR Press from Volume 26 Issue 5 (2021). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with Frontiers in Bioscience.
Mn2+ and bacterial pathogenesis
Fe2+ has traditionally been considered the most important divalent cation involved in host-pathogen interactions. However, recent research indicates a previously unappreciated role for transition metal divalent cations other than Fe2+ during infection. Recent studies have identified an absolute requirement for Mn2+ in bacterial pathogens that are Fe2+-independent, indicating an important role for Mn2+ in pathogenesis. Potential roles for Mn2+ in pathogenesis include effects on the detoxification of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROIs), as a cofactor for enzymes involved in intermediary metabolism and signal transduction, and as a stimulus for virulence gene regulation. This review focuses on how these possible roles for Mn2+ may affect bacterial pathogenesis and the outcome of an infection.