The effect on the availability of manganese and zinc ions for pathogenic bacteria

Abstract

Manganese and zinc play a role in the infectious process, wherein a change in the concentration of manganese and zinc can significantly impact the disease course. Bacterial pathogens utilize manganese ions as a protector that protects the organism from compounds of radicals generated by macroorganisms in infectious process. Therefore, a change in the level of supply of pathogenic bacteria with these microelements can impact the disease course. The macroorganism in the infectious process limits the availability of manganese for bacterial pathogens with the help of calprotectin, which can chelate Mn2+, Zn2+, competing with bacterial pathogens for these elements. Calprotectin is released at very high concentrations during the formation of neutrophilic extracellular traps, wherein calprotectin inhibits bacterial growth by sequestering zinc. However, calprotectin can promote the development of pneumonia caused by bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The effectiveness of the use of zinc preparations for various infectious dise­ases is widely studied, wherein the use of such preparations prevents the development of acute respiratory infections and contributes to milder course, including severe pneumonia in children.

Keywords

• pneumonia
• manganese
• zinc
• pathogenic bacteria
• zinc drugs