Immunotolerance during bacterial pneumonia and sepsis

Bacterial pneumonia and sepsis are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Massive use of antibiotics promotes pathogen resistance, and, as a consequence, the incidence of drug-resistant bacteria is increasing. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to expand our comprehension of host responses against invading pathogens, in order to develop new treatment strategies. This thesis presents experimental studies focused on the immune response against bacteria during (nosocomial) pneumonia and sepsis, and aims to increase our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms of immunotolerance as a feature of patients with sepsis.