Colonic mucus is a key biological hydrogel that protects the gut from infection and physical
damage and mediates host–microbe interactions and drug delivery. However, little is known …

Mucus is a viscoelastic hydrogel that lines and protects the epithelial surfaces of the body
that houses commensal microbiota and functions in host defense against pathogen …

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract harbors the most complex microbial ecosystem in the human
body. The mucosal layer that covers the GI tract serves as a polymer-based defensive …

Systems consisting of a polyelectrolyte solution in contact with a cross-linked polyelectrolyte
network are ubiquitous (eg, biofilms, drug-delivering hydrogels, and mammalian …

Figure 2 A, B). The apical mucus volume increased in quantity over time and by day 5 a
slippery hydrogel could be lifted off the epithelium (Figure 1 D). The thickness of the bacteria …

The mucus that coats the gastrointestinal tract of all mammals is a dynamic and sticky gel
layer and represents the first protective barrier between the host and the hostile …

The intestinal mucus layer provides a barrier limiting bacterial contact with the underlying
epithelium. Mucus structure is shaped by intestinal location and the microbiota. To …

The goal of this project was to validate the functional relevance and utility of mucus
produced by an in vitro intestinal cell culture model. This is facilitated by the need to …

Dysfunction of the intestinal mucus barrier causes disorders such as ulcerative colitis and
Crohn's disease. The function of this essential barrier may be affected by the periodically …

ABSTRACT A close symbiotic relationship exists between the intestinal microbiota and its
host. A critical component of gut homeostasis is the presence of a mucus layer covering the …