Frontiers in Immunology (Oct 2017)

Sugar or Fat?—Metabolic Requirements for Immunity to Viral Infections

  • Hesham M. Shehata,
  • Andrew J. Murphy,
  • Man kit Sam Lee,
  • Clair M. Gardiner,
  • Suzanne M. Crowe,
  • Suzanne M. Crowe,
  • Shomyseh Sanjabi,
  • David K. Finlay,
  • Clovis Steve Palmer,
  • Clovis Steve Palmer,
  • Clovis Steve Palmer

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2017.01311
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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The realization that an intricate link exists between the metabolic state of immune cells and the nature of the elicited immune responses has brought a dramatic evolution to the field of immunology. We will focus on how metabolic reprogramming through the use of glycolysis and fatty-acid oxidation (sugar or fat) regulates the capacity of immune cells to mount robust and effective immune responses. We will also discuss how fine-tuning sugar and fat metabolism may be exploited as a novel immunotherapeutic strategy to fight viral infections or improve vaccine efficacy.

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