Abstract
Like many pathogens inhabiting mucosal surfaces, nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) forms multicellular biofilm communities both in vitro and in various infection models. In the past 15 years much has been learned about determinants of biofilm formation by this organism and potential roles in bacterial virulence, especially in the context of chronic and recurrent infections. However, this concept has not been without some degree of controversy, and in the past some have expressed doubts about the relevance of NTHi biofilms to disease. In this review, I will summarize the present information on the composition and potential role(s) of NTHi biofilms in different clinical contexts, as well as highlight potential areas for future work.
Highlights
Biofilms are generically defined as multicellular microbial communities, often encased within a matrix material, which promote persistence within an environment (Costerton et al, 1995, 1987)
Biofilm communities are inherently resistant to antimicrobials and immune effectors due to multiple factors that can include lack of penetration of the biofilm matrix as well as reduced or halted metabolism of the bacteria residing within a biofilm (Fux et al, 2005; Hall-Stoodley and Stoodley, 2009)
The majority of H. influenzae strains in carriage and localized disease are the nontypeable H. influenzae (NTHi) strains that lack polysaccharide capsules, and are completely unaffected by the protective immune response generated by the Hib conjugate vaccine (Murphy and Apicella, 1987; Agrawal and Murphy, 2011)
Summary
In the past 15 years much has been learned about determinants of biofilm formation by this organism and potential roles in bacterial virulence, especially in the context of chronic and recurrent infections. This concept has not been without some degree of controversy, and in the past some have expressed doubts about the relevance of NTHi biofilms to disease. I will summarize the present information on the composition and potential role(s) of NTHi biofilms in different clinical contexts, as well as highlight potential areas for future work
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