Enterococcus faecalis biofilm rewires neutrophil metabolism to suppress antimicrobial activity.

E. faecalis biofilms suppress neutrophil antimicrobial functions by producing lactic acid, reducing NET formation, bacterial engulfment, and biofilm control.

• Why it matters: Understanding how biofilms evade neutrophils is crucial because biofilm-associated infections persist despite immune responses, posing treatment challenges.
• What they did: The study examined human neutrophils and a murine wound model, revealing that E. faecalis biofilms produce lactic acid via LDHs, acidifying the environment and disrupting key neutrophil metabolic pathways.
• The result: Loss of LDH increased neutrophil recruitment and NETosis in mice, and high bacterial density suppressed NETosis independently of lactic acid, highlighting bacterial metabolism and biofilm structure as immune evasion strategies.