Mucus is a selective barrier to particles and molecules, preventing penetration to the
epithelial surface of mucosal tissues. Significant advances in transmucosal drug delivery …

The production of natural antibiotic peptides has emerged as an important mechanism of
innate immunity in plants and animals. Defensins are diverse members of a large family of …

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-shortening disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis
transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Although bacterial lung infection and …

The transport of specific molecules across lipid membranes is an essential function of all
living organisms and a large number of specific transporters have evolved to carry out this …

This comprehensive State of the Art review summarizes the current published knowledge
base regarding the pathophysiology and microbiology of pulmonary disease in cystic …

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an ubiquitous pathogen capable of infecting virtually all
tissues. A large variety of virulence factors contribute to its importance in burn wounds, lung …

Pulmonary defense mechanisms preventing chronic bacterial infection. The lung is depicted
as an inverted funnel, reflecting the relative surface area of distal versus proximal airways …

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important pathogen causing a wide range of acute and
chronic infections. P. aeruginosa rarely causes infection in the normal host, but is an efficient …

Which elements are essential for human life? Here we make an element-by-element journey
through the periodic table and attempt to assess whether elements are essential or not, and …

Mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene result in
defective epithelial cAMP-dependent Cl− secretion and increased airway Na+ absorption …