Cystic Fibrosis Cystic Fibrosis causes the body to produce an abnormally thick, sticky mucus, due to the faulty transport of sodium and chloride (salt) within cells lining organs such as the lungs and pancreas, to their outer surfaces. The thick mucus also obstructs the pancreas, preventing enzymes from reaching the intestines to help break down and digest food. Cystic Fibrosis has a variety of symptoms. The most common are very salty-tasting skin, persistant coughing, wheezing …showed first 75 words of 412 total…

…showed last 75 words of 412 total…Fibrosis cells in laboratory dishes, which corrected the defective cells. The next major step was achieved in early 1993 when the first experimental gene therapy treatment was given to a patient with Cystic Fibrosis. Researchers modified a common cold virus to act as a delivery vehichle - carrying the genes to the Cystic Fibrosis cells in the airways. Several studies are underway to test new gene delivery methods, such as fat capsules (liposomes) and synthetic vectors.