Publications by authors named "Samantha A McLean"

A population of neutrophils recruited into cystic fibrosis (CF) airways is associated with proteolytic lung damage, exhibiting high expression of primary granule exocytosis marker CD63 and reduced phagocytic receptor CD16. Causative factors for this population are unknown, limiting intervention. Here we present a laboratory model to characterize responses of differentiated airway epithelium and neutrophils following respiratory infection.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Antimicrobial resistance is a current global health crisis, and the increasing emergence of multidrug resistant infections has led to the resurgent interest in bacteriophages as an alternative treatment. Prior to clinical application, phage suitability is assessed, via susceptibility testing and breadth of host range to bacteriophage, however, these are both large-scale manual processes and labor-intensive. The aim of the study was to establish and validate a scaled down methodology for high-throughput screening to reduce procedural footprint.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigates how different strains of fungi affect inflammation and mucus production in early cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, focusing on the effect of low conidia burden and diverse strains.
  • - Researchers analyzed ten pediatric CF isolates, two invasive clinical isolates, and a reference strain, utilizing ITS gene sequencing and antifungal susceptibility testing to categorize the isolates and assess their impacts.
  • - Results showed that the clinical isolates did not significantly differ in their ability to stimulate mucus production or inflammation (measured by IL-6 and IL-8), suggesting that their antifungal resistance is more clinically relevant than their immunostimulatory effects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Neutrophil elastase is a significant risk factor for structural lung disease in cystic fibrosis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa airway infection is linked with neutrophilic inflammation and substantial respiratory morbidity. We aimed to evaluate how neutrophil elastase (NE) activity changes after P. aeruginosa eradication and influences early disease outcomes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF