Background The human lung is exposed to a large number of airborne pathogens as a
result of the daily inhalation of 10,000 liters of air. Innate immunity is thus essential to defend …

Bacterial LPS triggers monocytes and macrophages to produce several inflammatory
cytokines and mediators. However, once exposed to LPS, they become hyporesponsive to a …

Trappin-2/Elafin is a potent serine protease inhibitor which prevents excessive damage
under inflammatory status. This “alarm-antiprotease” is locally expressed by epithelial cells …

Background Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections are a huge problem in ventilator-
associated pneumonia, cystic fibrosis (CF) and in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease …

Mucins, the main glycoproteins present within mucus, modulate the rheologic properties of
airways and participate in lung defense. They are thought to be able to trap and eliminate …

Most of current influenza virus vaccines fail to develop a strong immunity at lung mucosae
(site of viral entry) due to sub-optimal vaccination protocols (eg inactivated virus …

After penetration into the lower airways, bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) interacts with
alveolar cells in a fluid environment consisting of pulmonary surfactant, a lipid—protein …

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are microbicidal agents which could be potentially used as an
alternative to antivirals to treat human infectious diseases, especially influenza virus …

Lung epithelium guarantees gas-exchange (performed in the alveoli) and protects from
external insults (pathogens, pollutants…) present within inhaled air. Both functions are …

The lethal disease anthrax is propagated by spores of Bacillus anthracis, which can
penetrate into the mammalian host by inhalation, causing a rapid progression of the disease …