Crouching neutrophils, hidden bacteria

Abstract

The human body is a constantly changing ecosystem comprised of trillions of microbial organisms collectively known as the microbiome. In health, human keep a symbiosis relationship with these microorganisms, but once this balance is destroyed, the symbiotic bacteria will be transformed into pathogenic bacteria, causing local and even systemic infection disease. Especially, due to abusing of antibiotics, some of commensal bacteria, also known as “super bug”, becoming increasingly virulent and resistant to antibiotics. Infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria represent a major public health burden. Once bacteria bacteria invade their host, neutrophils (also known as PMN [polymorphonuclear leukocytes]), as the most abundant phagocytic cell in the human blood, are the first cell arrived at infection place and provide the front line of host defense against invading microbes. Neutrophils play a crucial role in protecting the host from bacterial infections and also have a pivotal role in orchestrating inflammation. This thesis is primarily focused on studying neutrophil-pathogen interactions, and then translating this this information to develop therapeutic strategies for infectious and inflammatory diseases.