Mucus is an endogenous viscoelastic biopolymer barrier that limits the entry of foreign
pathogens and therapeutic carriers to the underlying mucosal cells. This could be overcome …

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), signaling induced by cigarette smoke (CS), plays an
important role in the progression of airway diseases, like chronic bronchitis associated with …

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a cAMP-regulated,
apical anion channel that regulates ion and fluid transport in many epithelia including the …

Influenza virus has a significant impact on the respiratory system. The mechanism of how
influenza virus impairs the fluid transport in airway is not fully understood. We examined its …

Background Tobacco smoke exposure impairs the lung's innate immune response, leading
to an increased risk of chronic infections. SPLUNC1 is a secreted, multifunctional innate …

Nasal saline irrigation is a therapy that bathes the nasal mucosa with a liquid saline solution
to treat inflammatory nasal and paranasal disease or manage post nasal and sinus surgery …

Objective: Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are exposed to respiratory system pathogens mostly
forming biofilms, and therefore therapeutic interventions frequently fail. In this study, we …

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and Burkholderia cenocepacia (B.
cenocepacia), a member of the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) are common biofilm …

Introduction Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by mutation in
the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), which results in ion …

The work described in this thesis was carried out in the Ludwig Engel Centre for Respiratory
Research, The University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital, NSW, under the supervision of …