Health

Mucus Mechanics in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis-ScienceDaily

If you’ve had a cold, you know that too much mucus can be annoying, but mucus plays a very important role in your body. The respiratory system produces mucus as part of the immune system. It is intended to trap inhaled bacteria, viruses, and dirt and remove them before causing an infection. However, in people with a hereditary disease of cystic fibrosis (CF), the mucus produced by the body is thick and sticky, increasing the risk of infection and reducing respiratory capacity over time.

A new study, led by the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson Institute of Technology, examines the properties of mucus in CF patients and the role that mucus plays in the ability of pathogens to survive. New information can have a significant impact on CF treatment.

Researchers examined non-mucoid (PANT) and mucoid (PASL) strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common pathogen that infects the lungs. Pseudomonas aeruginosa adapts to the host environment mutating from the non-mucoid phenotype (PANT) to the mucoid phenotype (PASL). This mutation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa creates a protective film of mucus around the bacterium, thereby forming a more hydrated, slimy biofilm in the mucus.

“Think of the cells as rice grains. PANT cells are like basmati rice, while PASL cells are like sushi rice. They are coated to stick to each other when compressed,” said Chemistry. And Tagbo Niepa, an assistant professor of chemistry, explained. Petroleum engineering whose research was led by the laboratory. Niepa is also appointed to the Departments of Biotechnology, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science. “It is possible to measure how the investigational drug can change the stickiness of the coating that pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa produce during mutation.”

This mutation gives mucus unique properties that contribute to increased antibiotic resistance. It also protects them from phagocytic cells and helps the immune system wipe out dead or harmful cells by ingesting them.

To study these properties, researchers used pendant drop elastometry to compress and expand cell-formed biofilms. They also evaluated the transcriptional profile of cells and correlated film dynamics with cell physiology.

“This is the first time that pendant drop elastometry techniques have been used to study the mechanics of these cells. We show that these techniques can be used to investigate the effectiveness of mucolytics-the membrane. The mucus produced by the drug cells used to destroy it, “said Niepa. “This technique has the potential to be powerful in investigating these agents to see if they have the expected effect.”

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material Provided by University of Pittsburgh.. Note: The content can be edited in style and length.

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