Dendritic cell recognition of antibiotic-resistant strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Antibiotic-resistance is a major problem in hospitals and different community settings. Dendritic cells are sentinel cells of the innate immune system that play a major role in sensing pathogens and alerting the adaptive immune system of their presence. We have found that methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that has developed resistance to last line antibiotics is poorly recognised by dendritic cells. Thus the normal cytokine and interferon production and antigen presentation functions of dendritic cells are compromised during infections with antibiotic-resistant MRSA. This project aims to understand the mechanisms underlying sensing of MRSA by dendritic cells and how this is compromised when MRSA develops resistance to antibiotics.