Immune Protection From an Unexpected Source

It's a known fact that mucus helps protect the body against foreign infections. What's a lesser known fact is how it's done. Scientists have recently discovered that mucins have a definite role in this function. Mucins are the building blocks of mucus and are usually considered as inert building blocks. Now it's shown that they are much more active and since different people have different compositions in their mucin, it could explain varying levels of resistance to infections between people.

Past research has highlighted that mucins are threadlike proteins found commonly in breast milk to protect children from viruses. The researchers tested the mucins by making a gel out of it and coated epithelial tissue with this gel. The cells were then exposed to HPV, influenza and Merkel cell polyomavirus. It was shown that none of the viruses reached the cells and were instead trapped in the mucin. The suggestion is that the sugars in mucins act as decoys for the viruses to bind onto and prevents them from reaching the cells. It's also shown that salt seems to enhance the blocking capabilities of the mucin. The reasoning for this is still under investigation.

The researchers did point out that mucin is a good defense against viruses and that the likely reason for viruses circumventing this barrier is with the help of bacteria that break down the mucin. Other applications for mucin are also under consideration.

http://insciences.org/article.php?article_id=10749