TY - JOUR T1 - Impact of cigarette smoke exposure on host-bacterial pathogen interactions JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J DO - 10.1183/09031936.00061911 SP - erj00619-2011 AU - J. Garmendia AU - P. Morey AU - J.A. Bengoechea Y1 - 2011/01/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2011/07/07/09031936.00061911.abstract N2 - The human respiratory tract from individuals with a normal lung function maintains a fine-tuned balance, asymptomatically colonized by the normal microbiota in the upper airways and sterile in the lower tract. This equilibrium may be disrupted by the exposure to insults such as cigarette smoke. In the respiratory tract, the complex and noxious nature of inhaled cigarette smoke alters host-microorganism interaction dynamics at all anatomical levels, causing infections in many cases. Moreover, continuous exposure to cigarette smoke itself causes deleterious effects on the host which can trigger the development of chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. COPD is an irreversible airflow obstruction associated to emphysema, fibrosis, mucus hypersecretion and persistent colonization of the lower airways by opportunistic pathogens. COPD patients keep a stable but progressively worsening condition, and suffer periodic exacerbations caused, in most cases, by infections. Although smoking and smoking associated diseases are associated to high risk of infections, most therapies aim to reduce inflammatory parameters, but not necessarily take into account the presence of persistent colonizers. The effect of cigarette smoke on host-pathogen interaction dynamics in the respiratory tract, together with current and novel therapies is discussed. ER -