Chronic rhinosinusisits with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is an upper airway disease and often associated
with asthma, allergy and aspirin intolerance. The disease is characterized by eosinophilic infiltration
and is associated with S. aureus colonization. Despite the evidence of their involvement the role and
the mechanisms of this increased bacterial colonization in CRSwNP is not clear. Recently, it was
suggested that eosinophils can contribute to antibacterial defense mechanisms by releasing
mitochondrial DNA in association with granule proteins. These structures, named eosinophil
extracellular traps (EETs), were able to bind and kill bacteria. Beside the killing of bacteria, they can
simultaneously causing damage to cells and tissue.
As research findings suggest the involvement of S. aureus in the release of EETs, the aim of this
project is to investigate the role, presence and contribution of these EETs and their interaction with
S. aureus to the pathology of CRSwNP.