Goblet cell depletion is still prominent, the mucin and goblet cell marker mRNA levels are similar to pre-infection levels, the level of Alcian blue positive material in the lumen are similar to pre-infection levels, and the amount of alcian blue positive material in the tissue is decreased, indicating that the mucus is regulated by other factors, such as the changed ionic composition indicated by Ussing experiments, ion channel mRNA and proteomics experiments. Here, MUC5AC is linked to infection.