title: The Interaction between Respiratory Pathogens and Mucus.
abstract: The interaction between respiratory pathogens and their hosts is complex and incompletely understood. This is particularly true when pathogens encounter the mucus layer covering the respiratory tract. The mucus layer provides an essential first host barrier to inhaled pathogens that can prevent pathogen invasion and subsequent infection. Respiratory mucus has numerous functions and interactions, both with the host and with pathogens. This review summarizes the current understanding of respiratory mucus and its interactions with the respiratory pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respiratory syncytial virus and influenza viruses, with particular focus on influenza virus transmissibility and host-range specificity. Based on current findings we propose that respiratory mucus represents an understudied host-restriction factor for influenza virus.
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA. Electronic address: mark.zanin@stjude.org.
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Zanin
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
authors: Pradyumna
authors: P
authors: Baviskar
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Webster
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Webby
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D009093:Mucus / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000502:physiology*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D018406:Virus Physiological Phenomena