{
  "id": 18034685,
  "title": "Antibiotics drive immunometabolic rewiring of human immune responses",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/antibiotics-drive-immunometabolic-rewiring-of-human-immune-responses",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-11-03T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.11.03.763842v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Antibiotics are often assessed for their ability to kill microbes and their potential to harm the body's natural microbial balance. Some antibiotics also influence cellular processes within the host, particularly in the mitochondria, which could directly affect the immune system's functioning. Previously, the effects of most commonly used antibiotics on human immune cells have remained largely unexplored. To address this gap, researchers conducted a thorough examination of how various clinically employed antibiotics influence the activation of primary human immune cells.\n\nThe study revealed unexpected alterations in immune function induced by specific antibiotics within both healthy individuals and those suffering from infectious diseases. Focusing on ciprofloxacin, an antibiotic known for its immunomodulatory properties, the researchers discovered changes in mitochondrial gene expression across different immune populations. These alterations triggered distinct responses, particularly affecting the sensitivity of T-cells. The antibiotic impaired the expansion and activation of primary human T-cells, as well as altered mitochondrial function and metabolism.\n\nMoreover, the researchers demonstrated similar immunomodulatory effects in response to inactivated bacteria and during live viral infection using selected antibiotics. To further investigate the implications of their findings, they tested the impact of a single dose of an antibiotic in mice, observing changes in immune activation shortly after the administration. This research establishes a widespread impact of antibiotics on immune-cell function, highlighting mitochondrial disruption as a key underlying mechanism. The findings carry significant implications for understanding host-pathogen interactions and the efficacy of antimicrobial therapies.",
  "summary": "Antibiotics are routinely evaluated for their antimicrobial activity, potential host toxicity, and disruption of the microbiome. Certain antibiotics can also impact cell-intrinsic host processes, including evolutionarily conserved processes in the mitochondria. These raise the possibility that antibiotics can directly impact host immunity, which relies on mitochondrial function for their…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}