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ARTICLE | Translation in Brief

Sepsis' sweet tooth

Transferrin therapy for sepsis

July 27, 2017 8:55 PM UTC

It has long been known that pathogens rely on their host to provide metabolites and metals like iron to support growth and infections. Now, scientists from the Gulbenkian Institute of Science have shown how iron and glucose pathways intersect to provide a level of glucose that helps fight sepsis in mice.

The study, published last month in Cell, revealed therapeutic avenues for sepsis and potentially for infections like malaria, where hemolysis releases iron-bearing heme molecules that could produce feedback inhibition on glucose production...