CMHI Background
Objective:
To explore the interactions between pathogenic bacteria and human cells in order to better understand how they contribute to disease and in order to develop better antimicrobial therapies.
Our current disease model is the bacterial colonisation of the cystic fibrosis (CF) lung. CF is the most common life threatening genetically inherited disease in Ireland, affecting 1 in 1,353 live births. Ireland has the highest incidence of CF in Europe, and the recent Pollock report (2005) on ‘The treatment of Cystic Fibrosis in Ireland’
stated that outcomes are poorest here. CF pathogens cause respiratory infections that deteriorate lung function of CF patients and reduce their life expectancy.
The main focus of the research is the investigation of the pathogenesis of an opportunistic CF pathogen, Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc). The research is focussed on the interactions between these pathogens and lung epithelial cells, at both the cellular and molecular levels, with an ultimate goal of identifying novel therapies to combat these problematic organisms. Bcc is a group of 15 species of bacteria, associated with a high rate of mortality in CF patients. It is resistant to many antibiotics and certain strains are transmissible, leading to patient-to patient spread. We also examine newly emerging CF pathogens, including, genus Pandoraea
The Centre of Microbial Host Interactions, a designated Institute Research Centre at ITT Dublin, is currently investigating Bcc and other CF pathogens to address the following four key areas:
- Mechanisms by which bacteria interact with lung cells – mechanisms of interaction and evaluation of adhesion inhibitors
- The host response to CF pathogens – both the epithelial cell response and macrophage response
- The role of Biofilm formation in pathogenesis and antibiotic susceptibility
- Use of mathematical and statistical models to simulate the spread of the disease within the lungs and among the general population
We have a number of epithelial cell models that we use to probe the interactions between CF pathogens and the lung and the host response to those pathogens. We currently collaborate with researchers at National University of Ireland, Maynooth, the National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, DCU (as part of ongoing HEA PRTLI funded projects in the NICB); researchers in the departments of Clinical Microbiology & Gastroenterology at AMNCH.
