Fig. 3: Human cells communicate with microbes through different cytokines.
From: Molecules-mediated bidirectional interactions between microbes and human cells
The colored triangle represents human cytokine that can bind to specific or unnamed potential microbial receptors. The labeling principles for Microbial receptors are the same as those in Fig. 2. The microbe involved in this figure exist in the human mouth, lungs, stomach, and gut. Human cytokines from immunity cells exert antimicrobial effects by targeting microbial receptors. However, not all of binding can effectively combat pathogens, the virulence and growth of the pathogen may be activated by human cytokines. Arrow indicates the promotion of microbial phenotypes, such as the growth and virulence, while the blunt arrow represents the inhibitions. The diagram was created by Figdraw (www.figdraw.com/).
