Hey Guys,
Amy and I have a question which would be great if you could answer. We're unsure whether or not cytokines control biofilm acitivity, host cells activites or both? And why? We understand that cytokines are chemical messengers which control cell acitivites in the host response - BUT do they penetrate the biofilm and alter the activity of the biofilm or do they just alter the host response to the biofilm?
Thanks
Nikki
3 comments:
Hi guys.
I believe that cytokines only communicate between the different cells of the organism, i.e. between different host cells.
I don't think that cytokines have a direct affect on non-host cells such as pathogens. But they do help to facilitate the immune response, increasing immune cell activity, which in turn destroy the pathogen.
Hope this makes sense. As always I could be wrong.
As Nick said, cytokines are released by cells such as neutrophils, macrophages in response to an antigen and act as chemical mediators, almost warning other host cells of the invasion.
There are no cytokines in biofilm.. cytokines are part of the immune response....
Are you girls thinking of the pallisading effect. When PMN exit sulcus and coat the biofilm, allowing for efficient engulfing? if so go to module 2, session 1, page 8
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