Effects of the Sex Steroid Hormone Estradiol on Biofilm Growth of Cystic Fibrosis Isolates.

Women with cystic fibrosis (CF) have a significantly lower life expectancy compared to men, which is indicated by an earlier impairment of lung function due to chronic colonization with biofilm formed by . There is growing evidence that blood serum concentrations of the steroid sex hormone estradiol (E) correlate with the occurrence of pulmonary exacerbations in CF but also play a role in the mucoid switch of . This study aims to shed light on possible microbiological reasons for sexual dimorphism in CF by investigating the influence of E on biofilm formation of .