Abstract
Bacteria living as biofilms have been recognised as the ultimate cause of persistent and destructive inflammatory processes. Biofilm formation is a well-organised, genetically-driven process, which is well characterised for numerous bacteria species. In contrast, the host response to bacterial biofilms is less well analysed, and there is the general believe that bacteria in biofilms escape recognition or eradication by the immune defence. In this review the host response to bacterial biofilms is discussed with particular focus on the role of neutrophils because these phagocytic cells are the first to infiltrate areas of bacterial infection, and because neutrophils are equipped with a wide arsenal of bactericidal and toxic entities. I come to the conclusion that bacterial biofilms are not inherently protected against the attack by neutrophils, but that control of biofilm formation is possible depending on a timely and sufficient host response.
Highlights
Since the seminal work by Bill Costerton and the effort by many more scientists, bacterial biofilms have emerged as a novel pathogenic principle, of opportunists causing persistent and in part destructive inflammatory process in man and in animals [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]
To analyse the immune response to biofilm infection, our group has focussed on the so-called implant-associated osteomyelitis, a persistent bacterial infection caused by formation of bacterial biofilms on endoprostheses or on osteosynthesis materials, such as screws, plates, or nails
For example, have less neutrophils compared to humans, so it is quite possible that the quality of the initial, innate response involves more monocytes and differs from the human situation
Summary
Since the seminal work by Bill Costerton and the effort by many more scientists, bacterial biofilms have emerged as a novel pathogenic principle, of opportunists causing persistent and in part destructive inflammatory process in man and in animals [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. There is a general agreement that living in biofilm was of advantage for the bacteria when nutrition was scarce and the environmental conditions were unfavourable [9,10,11]. As “commensals” they are minding their own business and do not interfere with host functions They apparently escape detection and do not elicit an adverse response [12, 13]. Biofilms at other sites were recognised as the ultimate cause of persistent and destructive infections and inflammatory processes. There are excellent reviews on biofilm formation in the literature (e.g., [14,15,16]) and on a very informative website of the Center of Biofilm Engineering (http://www.biofilm .montana.edu/) for further reference; I will touch the issue of biofilm formation only briefly and only as far as it is required for the general understanding
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