Neutrophil-Mediated Immune Responses in Bacterial Infections
Summary
Neutrophils are essential innate immune cells that provide the first line of defence against bacterial invasion. Upon detection of conserved microbial motifs by pattern recognition receptors, neutrophils migrate rapidly to sites of infection, where they engulf pathogens through phagocytosis, release antimicrobial granules, and generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) via the NADPH oxidase complex. In addition, neutrophils can form extracellular nets composed of chromatin and granule proteins to trap and kill bacteria. Beyond direct microbicidal activity, they secrete cytokines and chemokines that orchestrate the recruitment and activation of other leukocytes, while anti-inflammatory signals such as interleukin-10 (IL-10) help to limit collateral tissue injury. Recent advances have revealed considerable heterogeneity among neutrophil subsets, with distinct phenotypes emerging during different stages of infection and resolution. Dysregulated neutrophil responses contribute to the pathogenesis of sepsis, pneumonia and chronic wound infections, underscoring the need to balance effective bacterial clearance with controlled inflammation. Emerging therapeutic strategies aim to augment pathogen killing, modulate suppressive cytokine pathways and prevent excessive neutrophil extracellular trap formation to improve clinical outcomes in bacterial diseases.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Neutrophil-Mediated Immune Responses in Bacterial Infections publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in neutrophil-mediated immune responses in bacterial infections across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Phagocytosis: The process by which neutrophils engulf and internalise bacteria for intracellular killing. Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules generated by the NADPH oxidase complex to destroy ingested pathogens. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs): Meshworks of decondensed chromatin and granule proteins expelled by neutrophils to immobilise and kill extracellular bacteria. Cytokine: Small secreted proteins that mediate communication between immune cells, regulating inflammation and resolution. Interleukin-10 (IL-10): An anti-inflammatory cytokine produced by neutrophils and other leukocytes that limits tissue damage during infection.
References
- Conquering Neutrophils. PLOS Pathogens (2016).
- Characterization of the Anti-Inflammatory Capacity of IL-10-Producing Neutrophils in Response to Streptococcus pneumoniae Infection. Frontiers in Immunology (2021).
- Neutrophil responsiveness to IL-10 impairs clearance of Streptococcus pneumoniae from the lungs. Journal of Leukocyte Biology (2023).
About these summaries
This Nature Research Intelligence Topic summary is created with the cited references and a large language model. We take care to ground generated text with facts, and have systems in place to gain human feedback on the overall quality of the process in line with our AI principles. We strive to create accurate and useful summaries for people unfamiliar with the research topic and that supports this goal. These pages are a beta release and will be updated as we learn how best to help people gain value from a research topic summary.
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.