Host Cell Metabolism in Bacterial Infection: From Molecular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Targets

Dear Colleagues,

Host cell metabolism is recognized as central to infection outcomes, shaping both pathogen survival strategies and the host immune response. Bacterial pathogens actively reprogram metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, mitochondrial function, lipid metabolism, and nucleotide balance, to create intracellular environments appropriate to their replication, persistence, or immune evasion. Conversely, host cells deploy metabolic remodeling as part of their defense, modulating energy production, redox balance, nutrient flux, and immunometabolic signaling. This dynamic interplay defines not only the pathophysiology of infectious diseases but also opportunities for therapeutic intervention through host-directed therapies that target key metabolic pathways in host cells rather than the pathogen itself. These approaches aim to restore immune homeostasis, enhance antimicrobial mechanisms, and limit tissue damage. This Special Issue focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms through which bacterial infections alter host cell metabolism. We welcome studies on metabolic shifts in immune and non-immune cells relevant to pathogen–host interactions, and also aim to include emerging therapeutic targets based on the host cell as a perspective on metabolic research, offering new avenues for combating antimicrobial resistance and improving the clinical management of bacterial diseases. The purpose of this collection is to bring together cutting-edge research that advances our understanding of metabolic rewiring as both a bacterial virulence strategy and a host defense mechanism. By integrating experimental, computational, and translational perspectives, this Special Issue aims to inspire novel hypotheses, highlight emerging therapeutic targets, and foster interdisciplinary dialogue across microbiology, immunology, cell biology, and metabolic research.

Dr. Marcia Berrêdo-Pinho
Prof. Dr. Roberta Olmo Pinheiro
Guest Editors

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