Diabetes is a challenging global health problem that is estimated to impact 1 in 11 adults worldwide. Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in elderly patients with diabetes. Phagocytes including neutrophils and monocytes provide critical cellular defences against S. aureus, and studies indicate that the immune functions of neutrophils from diabetics are defective. Our objective is to identify pathways in which phagocytes isolated from diabetics fail to kill S. aureus, in order to define novel therapeutic targets to promote immunity in patients with diabetes. Such strategies will improve S. aureus killing of both resistant and sensitive strains by the host and thus reduce requirements for extended antibiotic treatment and the risk of highly resistant strains emerging. |
The Team
|
