title: Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm infections in cystic fibrosis: insights into pathogenic processes and treatment strategies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  CF airway mucus can be infected by opportunistic microorganisms, notably Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Once organisms are established as biofilms, even the most potent antibiotics have little effect on their viability, especially during late-stage chronic infections. Better understanding of the mechanisms used by P. aeruginosa to circumvent host defenses and therapeutic intervention strategies is critical for advancing novel treatment strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Inflammatory injury in CF lung, role of neutrophils in pathogenesis, P. aeruginosa biofilms, mucoidy and its relationship with poor airway oxygenation, mechanisms by which P. aeruginosa biofilms in the CF airway can be killed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An understanding of the processes that P. aeruginosa undergoes during CF airway disease and clues to better treat such infections in future.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The course of CF airway disease is a process involving host and microbial factors that often dictate frequency of pulmonary exacerbations, thus affecting the overall course. In the past decade significant discoveries have been made regarding the pathogenic processes used by P. aeruginosa to bypass the immune system. Many new and exciting features of P. aeruginosa now illuminate weaknesses in the organism that may render it susceptible to inexpensive compounds that force its own destruction.
authors.affiliation: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Department of Molecular Genetics, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0524, USA. Daniel.Hassett@UC.Edu
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hassett
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Korfhagen
authors.forename: Randall T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Irvin
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Schurr
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sauer
authors.forename: Gee W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hoiby
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D005407:Flagella / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000502:physiology*; D053038:Quorum Sensing; D012977:Sodium Nitrite / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012977:Sodium Nitrite