Airway Mucus Research Paper

Airway mucus is part of inborn immunity that facilitates the elimination of inhaled microorganisms. Antibacterial mechanisms such as lysozymes and defensins, which are contained in airway mucus, are key components of this inborn immunity (Gerson et al. 2000). While this defense mechanisms remains prevalent in cystic fibrosis patients it appears to be compromised in that it allows the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in airway mucus. The fact that people with cystic fibrosis are equally exposed to pathogens as any healthy person it remains a question as to why Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been successful at inhabiting and multiplying in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients. A recent study, A novel siderophore system is essential for the growth
This bacteria can cause minor infections like swimmer’s ear. But for people who are ill and have weak immune system, this bacteria can cause deadly infection to many parts of the body. The infection is hard to treat because Pseudomonas aeruginosa can resist many antibiotics. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is spread easily in hospitals by health care professionals and uncleansed medical equipment. This serious infection can cause pneumonia in the lungs and can cause septic shock if released into the blood stream. Symptoms include high fever, chills, confusion, and shock (CDC 2014). However, cystic fibrosis patients the persistent existence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa can be
The method used to detect increased expression of genes was microarray analysis. The thirty-five genes listed in table one, of the above referenced study, were upregulated in the wild type strain PAO1 when incubated with airway mucus. The table included genes that encode siderophore molecules used for iron sequestration called pyoverdine and pyochelin. Also, genes that make up the operon PA4834-PA4837 were highly expressed in response to airway