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Otitis media pathogens – A life entrapped in biofilm communities

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journal contribution
posted on 2019-09-10, 13:15 authored by Maria Daniela Silva, Sanna Sillankorva

Otitis media is a group of inflammatory diseases of the middle ear with great impact on children worldwide. The most common reported bacterial pathogens are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis. Over the last years, the role of biofilms formed by otopathogens that contribute to otitis media recurrence and chronicity has been established. An improved understanding of the properties of biofilms formed by these bacteria, which factors influence them, and how these affect the host inflammatory response is important for the development of novel strategies for the treatment of otitis media. This review focuses on the biofilm nature that the most prevalent otopathogens adopt in otitis media infections. In addition, new treatment approaches targeting biofilms are highlighted.

Funding

MDS acknowledges the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) grant [SFRH/BD/128825/2017]. This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of [UID/BIO/04469/2019] unit and BioTecNorte operation [NORTE-01–0145-FEDER-000004] funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020 - Programa Operacional Regional do Norte.

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