70,000
people with CF worldwide, a lifespan depending of the resources (in USA the
lifespan it’s about 40 years old, while in Chile the average lifespan it’s
about 18 years old)
Scene from Patient Assistance Resource Center video (Youtube). Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
It’s a disease caused by the expression of a deficient transmembrane protein called CFTR. This affects different kind of cells, mainly the epithelial cells from the airway and pancreas, causing the production of a defective mucus.
In the lungs, this defective mucus leads that several opportunistic pathogens enter to the lower airway and initiate an infection, with a consecutively progressive lung dysfunction.
One of the main pathogens found in an infection of the lungs are the Pseudomonas aeruginosa. When it colonize the airway, initiates the production of biofilm, a barrier that protect it of a lot of antimicrobial substances and gave best environment for it develop.
The actual treatments for controlling the symptoms consist in maintain controlled the pathogens, clear the airway of the sticky mucus, administrate complementary enzymes and regulate the function of the CFTR channel.
Say goodbye everybody, the antibiotics are now available:
There’s no protection of the biofilm. Both P. aeruginosa and our E. coli Troyhorse are exposed to the final cut… a massive antibiotic attack!!!
Well, here
we are… it’s time to start the part II:
Our E. coli tryhorse now know they are in the
zone. It’s time to start the attack. Our enemy are protected by his thick barrier
and our warriors know his weak point.
Our
troyhorse warriors have a plan!!
The first part of the plan is simple: looking
for the Biofilm fortress.
We have to find our enemy. Our warriors will
to enter to the fortress been guide by the clues left by our enemies, the
Pseudomonas aeruguinosa.
They are under attack!!! Pseudomonas are communicating themselves for rebuild the biofilm:
We have to cut the communications between the Pseudomonas as an intelligent strategy. The biofilm it’s a community work. If they can´t send signals, they won’t work in community.
Our troyhorse warriors have a plan!!
We propose smart warriors E. coli for the battle against the P. aeruginosa. We are training them now, teaching the action plan!!! Pay attention...
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