Static mucus impairs bacterial clearance and allows chronic infection with in the cystic fibrosis rat.

Cystic fibrosis airway disease is characterised by chronic infection. Successful eradication strategies have been hampered by a poor understanding of the mechanisms underlying conversion to chronicity. The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance receptor (CFTR)-knockout (KO) rat harbours a progressive defect in mucociliary transport and viscosity.