Investigating the impact of bacterial membrane vesicles on alveolar macrophage responses

Alveolar macrophages are one of the body's first lines of defence against lung infections. They are an important immune cell that aids in maintaining healthy lungs free of microbes, dust, and debris. Despite this knowledge about alveolar macrophages our understanding of them is limited due to lack of appropriate model systems. This thesis aimed to examine alternative methods of investigating alveolar macrophage responses to bacteria and their derived components, specifically those called membrane vesicles. Membrane vesicles are nanoparticles produced by all bacteria and aid in their ability to cause disease. Through the identification of these interactions we gain a better understanding about how alveolar macrophages respond to microbes and therefore are able to develop new ways to treat lung infections and diseases.