Steve Bryson, PhD,  science writer—

More than half of the infections caused by the Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC), a bacteria known to cause serious complications in people with cystic fibrosis (CF), were successfully eradicated, a 20-year study reported. Despite some CF patients testing negative following initial treatment for more than two years, however, subsequent…

Oral red ginseng extract eased the signs of cystic fibrosis (CF) in the lungs of rats, a study reports. The extract’s effect was thought to enhance the activity of TMEM16A, a chloride transport protein similar to CFTR, which is defective in CF. The treatment improved chloride flow and reduced…

Telemedicine programs for managing cystic fibrosis (CF) were at least as effective as standard in-clinic care, according to a review study. Adhering to treatment regimens and patient satisfaction with telemedicine improved significantly across most studies examined, and most participants favored continuing with telemedicine. The review study, “…

LasB, an enzyme that promotes Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in the lungs of people with cystic fibrosis (CF), is significantly more active in the early stages of infection with the bacteria, known more simply as P. aeruginosa, a study revealed. These findings suggest that therapies targeting LasB may be…

A newly identified therapeutic target showed a potential to enhance the effectiveness of antibiotics against resistant Mycobacterium abscessus (Mabs) lung infection, a damaging complication in people with cystic fibrosis (CF), researchers report. Experiments using human airway organoids derived from CF patients also accurately reflected many features seen in their…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will allow children with cystic fibrosis (CF) as young as age 2 to use Relizorb, an enzyme cartridge that connects with an enteral feeding tube to provide easier digestion of fats. “This additional RELiZORB clearance represents access for approximately 25% of…

Children and adolescents who are wait-listed for lung transplantation and have the worst functional status are at the greatest risk of being removed from the waitlist due to clinical deterioration or death, a study reports. The risk is highest for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and for adolescents compared…

CFTR modulator therapies can enhance the ability of certain immune cells to kill bacteria, independent of defects in the CFTR protein that cause cystic fibrosis (CF), according to a new study. Specifically, these modulators alter metabolic processes to activate anti-bacterial processes within both CF and non-CF immune cells known…

A Chicago children’s hospital is leading an awareness campaign to reduce the missed or delayed diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF) after newborn screening, especially in non-white infants. “Delays in diagnosis of cystic fibrosis increase the risk for severe illness,” Susanna McColley, MD, principal investigator and a pulmonologist at the…

One year of treatment with hypertonic saline, inhaled twice daily, reduced the thickness of the airway walls in children with cystic fibrosis (CF), according to an analysis of clinical trial data. Researchers used an automated method to assess changes in lung structure captured on CT scans, and supported…