A lactobacillus-dominant vaginal microbiota has been shown to decrease heterosexual HIV transmission. Nunn et al. now report that a vaginal microbiota dominated by Lactobacillus crispatus is associated with a relative inability of HIV pseudoviral particles to transverse cervicovaginal mucus (CVM) in vitro [mBio 6(5):e01084-15, 2015, doi:10.1128/mBio.01084-15]. The purported inhibitory mechanism...

Mucosal drug delivery nanotechnologies are limited by the mucus barrier that protects nearly all epithelial surfaces not covered with skin. Most polymeric nanoparticles, including polystyrene nanoparticles (PS), strongly adhere to mucus, thereby limiting penetration and facilitating rapid clearance from the body. Here, we demonstrate that PS rapidly penetrate human cervicovaginal mucus (CVM), i...

UNLABELLED Antibodies that specifically bind polyethylene glycol (PEG) can lead to rapid elimination of PEGylated therapeutics from the systemic circulation. We have recently shown that virus-binding IgG can immobilize viruses in mucus via multiple low-affinity crosslinks between IgG and mucins. However, it remains unclear whether anti-PEG antibodies in mucus may also alter the penetration and ...

Mucus covers the epithelium found in all intestinal tracts, where it serves as an important protecting barrier, and pharmaceutical drugs administrated by the oral, rectal, vaginal, ocular, or nasal route need to penetrate the mucus in order to reach their targets. Furthermore, the diffusion in mucus as well as the viscosity of mucus in the eyes, nose and throat can change depending on the relat...

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to compare reproductive performance parameters for two protocols for estrus synchronization in dairy heifers in Germany. MATERIAL AND METHODS In the CIDR group (n=93) all heifers received a controlled intravaginal progesterone releasing insert (Eazi-Breed™ CIDR®; Pfizer Pharma GmbH; containing 1,38g of progesterone) on day 0. On day 7 these cows were ...

A 10-year-old 4.7-kg spayed female mix breed dog presented with mucoid vaginal discharge despite treatment for cystitis a month. malignant neoplasm was suspected based on atypical cells found mucus cytology. cystoscopy biopsy performed, and the histopathologic diagnosis consistent transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). subtotal urethrectomy urethral-vaginal anastomosis were performed. Treatment pir...