Maxwell finland lecture

Abstract

The theme detente has been used to highlight bacterial weapons and host defenses. Interactions on host surfaces “at the border” zone are usually subclinical events. If bacteria have initial success and invade, iron sequestration, serum bacteriocidins, opsonins and the phagocytic system keeps this a localized event.

More virulent microbes have evolved mechanims for evading the phagocytic system by developing thick cell walls with specialized structures or capsules. Fortunately, the host's specific adaptive immune granulocytes and macrophages response provides opsonic antibodies for efficient phagocytosis.

The phagocytes' oxidative burst, granule disruption, and phagosome formation results in host superiority although prolonged co-existence may exist when certain bacteria successfully evade intracellular events.