Sepsis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Sepsis, including details on septicemia, diagnosis, symptoms, treatment.

Advances in sepsis research derived from animal models.

Männel DN

Institute of Immunology, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany. daniela.maennel@klinik.uni-regensburg.de

Inflammation is the basic process by which tissues of the body respond to infection. Activation of the immune system normally leads to removal of microbial pathogens, and after resolution of the inflammation immune homeostasis is restored. This controlled process, however, can be disturbed resulting in disease. Therefore, many studies using infection models have investigated the participating immune mechanisms aiming at possible therapeutic interventions. Defined model substances such as bacterial lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) have been used to mimic bacterial infections and analyze their immune stimulating functions. A complex network of molecular mechanisms involved in the recognition and activation processes of bacterial infections and their regulation has developed from these studies. More complex infection models will now help to interpret earlier observations leading to the design of relevant new infection models.

Published 8 August 2007 in Int J Med Microbiol, 297(5): 393-400.
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