While we may think of mucus as merely the slimy substance that clogs our nose and gets blown into a tissue, it is so much more. It lines several body organs, acting as a first line of defense against foreign invaders as well as aiding essential body functions like digestion and illness prevention. Scientists are also taking inspiration from mucus for new disease-fighting treatments.

What is mucus made of?

Mucus is made of more than 95% water by weight, but its "key building blocks are mucins, which are long proteins decorated with complex sugars that make them look like bottlebrushes," said The New York Times . These mucins "attract and retain water, giving mucus its slippery, gel-like consistency," said New Scientist . This allows the mucus to keep the passages wet. "Once secret

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