Germany, Feb. 18 -- Project Id: 124893
Description: Project description
The role of neutrophils in chlamydia
Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) constitute the first line of innate defence against pathogens. However, in the case of chlamydia, a common sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, PMNs seem to be unresponsive. Moreover, bacteria exploit PMNs as intracellular sites for replication. The key objective of the EU-funded NCI-CAD project is to investigate the mechanism by which PMNs subject to this role change from effectors to infection facilitators. Results have important consequences for the understanding of the asymptomatic nature of chlamydia and may lead to novel interventions against infec...