Translationally, this suggests that therapeutics targeting at increasing or replacing CC16 could provide benefit to individuals that have decreased pulmonary SPLUNC1 levels, such as cystic fibrosis patients (47–49), asthmatics (44, 50–52), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients (19, 53, 54), as these individuals may have decreased clearance of Mp infections leading to increased pathogen burden and decreased lung function. This evidence concerns the gene BPIFA1 and cystic fibrosis.