New research shows that mucin-inspired glycopolymers can block Salmonella from infecting cells,.
Antibiotics damage the gut’s mucus barrier in mice, causing microbes to contact epithelial cells, trigger inflammation, and suggesting that restoring mucus might help mitigate gut injury.
The article explores how mucus, phlegm, and snot — often dismissed as waste — actually serve vital roles in health, such as trapping pathogens.
The podcast explores how mucus is far more than “waste”—it’s an active, powerful defender in our bodies, playing roles in tissue protection across multiple organs.
Cervical mucus is not passive but plays a vital role as a protective, selective “gatekeeper” — balancing fertility, microbial health, and defense at the body’s interface
Scientists discovered that specific sugar molecules (glycans) in mucus and saliva help regulate fungal behavior, preventing pathogenic overgrowth while maintaining microbial balance.
Scientists found that sugars attached to the mucin polymers in mucus can actively suppress harmful microbes, not merely trap them, revealing an underappreciated defensive role for mucus.
Mucus plays vital, active roles beyond lubrication — it hydrates tissues, supports beneficial microbes, traps pathogens, and helps regulate microbial behavior across all mucosal surfaces
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