Interaction of pathogenic bacteria with human phagocytic leukocytes

中性粒细胞是抵御入侵微生物的先天免疫反应的关键。获得性免疫反应需要时间来发展，并依赖于先前与特定病原体的相互作用，而中性粒细胞杀死感染微生物的能力是直接的、非特异性的，并且不依赖于先前的病原体暴露。由于中性粒细胞产生细胞毒分子，是大多数细菌感染的主要免疫细胞，控制感染引起的炎症对于限制宿主组织的破坏至关重要。我们研究的一个关键方面是调查中性粒细胞如何吞噬和杀死细菌，并阐明吞噬后的后遗症，如细胞凋亡，这是炎症消退阶段至关重要的过程。这些研究继续为人类感染的解决提供基本的见解。

Neutrophils are essential to the innate immune response against invading microorganisms. In contrast to the acquired immune response, which requires time to develop and is dependent on previous interaction with specific pathogens, the ability of neutrophils to kill infectious microorganisms is immediate, non-specific, and not dependent on previous pathogen exposure. Inasmuch as neutrophils produce cytotoxic molecules and are the predominant immune cell in most bacterial infections, moderation of infection-induced inflammation is critical for limiting host tissue destruction. A key aspect of our research investigates how neutrophils ingest and kill bacteria, and elucidates post-phagocytosis sequelae such as apoptosis, processes crucial for the resolution phase of inflammation. These studies continue to provide fundamental insight into the resolution of infection in humans.