Host-response: understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of host-microbial interactions--consensus of the Seventh European Workshop on Periodontology.

Background: Major challenges in periodontology include understanding the pathophysiology, the interplay between various components of the host response, parallels with other diseases and identifying biomarkers of the disease.

Objectives: Four reviews were compiled with the aim of better understanding: (1) the role of polymorphic nuclear leucocytes (PMNs), i.e.