Lack of MyD88 protects the immunodeficient host against fatal lung inflammation triggered by the opportunistic bacteria Burkholderia cenocepacia.

Burkholderia cenocepacia is an opportunistic pathogen of major concern for cystic fibrosis patients as well as immunocompromised cancer patients and transplant recipients. The mechanisms by which B. cenocepacia triggers a rapid health deterioration of the susceptible host have yet to be characterized.

TLR 5, but neither TLR2 nor TLR4, is involved in lung epithelial cell response to Burkholderia cenocepacia.

Burkholderia cenocepacia is known to induce a harmful inflammatory response in the airways of cystic fibrosis patients. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play key roles in sensing microbial-associated molecular patterns and initiating host innate immunity, but their role in the inflammatory response elicited by B. cenocepacia has not been precisely examined.