News

New Spectroscopy Method May Help Identify CF Bacteria Faster

Scientists at the University of Southampton have created a new method that could be useful for rapidly identifying infectious bacteria in samples from people with cystic fibrosis (CF). Unlike currently used methods, this method does not require a time-consuming culture step where bacteria are grown in a laboratory. The…

Some Severe Asthma Patients Carry CFTR Variants: Genetic Study

Some people with severe asthma, an inflammatory lung condition, carry variants of the CFTR gene that causes cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic study found. These findings support the genetic assessment of severe asthma patients with CF-related symptoms, the scientists recommended. The study, “DNA Sequencing Analysis of…

Targeting Pathway With Ectoine May Help in Stabilizing CFTR Protein

A natural compound called ectoine may help to improve the stability of the CFTR protein by modulating the activity of a molecular signaling pathway called AREG-EGFR-ERK, a study reported. Ectoine is a stress-protection molecule with water-retaining and potentially anti-inflammatory properties. The researchers suggested that ectoine, given in combination with CFTR…