Effective immunity against bacterial pathogens requires a delicate balance between microbial clearance and the containment of inflammatory damage encountered during many infections. The molecular pathways that regulate this equilibrium remain incompletely defined, and the involvement of bioactive lipid signaling mechanisms also needs to be better described. Here, we show that the endocannabinoid receptors CB1R and CB2R play non-redundant roles in host defense against Salmonella infection. CB1R deficiency results in exacerbated systemic inflammation, defective bacterial clearance, and dysregulated macrophage polarization. In contrast, CB2R deficiency leads post-infection to gut dysbiosis and has been found to negatively affect the outcome for the host in both systemic and mucosal infection with Salmonella. By describing cannabinoid receptor-specific contributions to immune regulation and microbiota dynamics, our findings reveal a previously underappreciated axis of host–pathogen interaction. This study broadens our understanding of lipid-mediated immune modulation and identifies CB1R and CB2R as potential targets for therapies aimed at restoring immune homeostasis and improving infectious disease outcomes.

Antibiotic-resistant infections, particularly those caused by intracellular pathogens, represent an urgent public health threat due to their ability to evade immune responses and resist conventional antibiotics. This study identifies the ubiquitin-...

Enterobacter cloacae can transition from a gut commensal to an opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised hosts and in closed environments such as hospitals. This danger can be exacerbated by the emergence of multidrug-resistant E. cloacae strains. ...

As researchers representing universities across the country, the last few weeks have been filled with uncertainty. As you are aware, the Trump administration’s National Institutes of Health (NIH) prop...

A first-of-its-kind analysis by Nature reveals which institutions are retraction hotspots.

Be it from tap water on a vacation, some dodgy chicken, or something the kids have brought home from school, we've almost all been flattened by an awful stomach bug at some point in our lives. For mod...

St. Jude Careers is hiring a Senior Scientist-Immunology, Vaccinology, Infection in Memphis, Tennessee. Review all of the job details and apply today!

It is with a heavy heart that I reflect on the remarkable life and career of Dr. Lisa Emerson, who died from natural causes in September 2024. Lisa was an extraordinary young scientist, mentee, and fr...