©The Author(s) 2026. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Immunol. Feb 12, 2026; 16(2): 114815
Published online Feb 12, 2026. doi: 10.5411/wji.v16.i2.114815
Published online Feb 12, 2026. doi: 10.5411/wji.v16.i2.114815
Body size and infection: An immunological balancing act
Binod Kumar Pati, Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bihar 801507, India
Prasan Kumar Panda, Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh 249203, India
Author contributions: Pati BK and Panda PK designed the research study, performed the research, contributed analytic tools, analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Prasan Kumar Panda, Professor, Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Room No. 409, Building No 1, Rishikesh 249203, India.
Received: September 29, 2025
Revised: October 23, 2025
Accepted: January 7, 2026
Published online: February 12, 2026
Processing time: 135 Days and 19.1 Hours
Revised: October 23, 2025
Accepted: January 7, 2026
Published online: February 12, 2026
Processing time: 135 Days and 19.1 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Pathogen and host dimensions - from nanometer molecules to meter-long structures - govern the strategies of infection, immunity, and survival. Nanometric viruses to larger helminths are countered by host defenses, such as molecular mediators, phagocytes, and anatomical barriers. Furthermore, time pressure links size driven microbial adaptation, including antimicrobial resistance, into host tolerance and immunity. Recognizing size as a central determinant in host-microbe interactions provides new insights into susceptibility, antimicrobial resistance, and opportunities for precision medicine.