Nerve cells found to suppress immune response during deadly lung infections

(Harvard Medical School) Neurons that carry nerve signals to and from the lungs suppress immune response during fatal lung infections with the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus.Animal experiments show that disabling these neurons can boost immune response and promote bacterial clearance to aid recovery.Targeting neuro-immune signaling in the lungs can pave the way to nonantibiotic therapies for bacterial pneumonia.
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news