he impact of air pollution on host-pathogen interactions.

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Air pollution is the world's largest single environmental health risk, being responsible for an eighth of all global deaths per year (World Health Organisation, 2017). Particulate matter (PM), a key component of air pollution, is strongly associated with exacerbation of chronic respiratory disease such as COPD and asthma, as well as community acquired pneumonia, infective endocarditis, infection of cystic fibrosis patients, otitis media and chronic rhinosinusitis. Previous work has shown induced changes in Staphylococcus aureus in the presence of PM that exacerbate infection. This project will focus on S. aureus associated with community acquired infection. The interplay between bacteria, host and air pollution will be investigated in order to understand gene expression changes that facilitate increased adhesion and invasion of host epithelial cells.