Posted on 09/14/2021 11:45:49 AM PDT by yesthatjallen
Exposure to the rhinovirus, the most frequent cause of the common cold, can protect against infection by the virus which causes COVID-19, Yale researchers have found.
In a new study, the researchers found that the common respiratory virus jump-starts the activity of interferon-stimulated genes, early-response molecules in the immune system which can halt replication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus within airway tissues infected with the cold.
Triggering these defenses early in the course of COVID-19 infection holds promise to prevent or treat the infection, said Ellen Foxman, assistant professor of laboratory medicine and immunobiology at the Yale School of Medicine and senior author of the study. One way to do this is by treating patients with interferons, an immune system protein which is also available as a drug.
“But it all depends upon the timing,” Foxman said.
The results were published June 15 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.
Previous work showed that at the later stages of COVID-19, high interferon levels correlate with worse disease and may fuel overactive immune responses. But recent genetic studies show that interferon-stimulated genes can also be protective in cases of COVID-19 infection.
Foxman’s lab wanted to study this defense system early in the course of COVID-19 infection.
Since earlier studies by Foxman’s lab showed that common cold viruses may protect against influenza, they decided to study whether rhinoviruses would have the same beneficial impact against the COVID-19 virus. For the study, her team infected lab-grown human airway tissue with SARS-CoV-2 and found that for the first three days, viral load in the tissue doubled about every six hours. However, replication of the COVID-19 virus was completely stopped in tissue which had been exposed to rhinovirus. If antiviral defenses were blocked, the SARS-CoV-2 could replicate in airway tissue previously exposed to rhinovirus.
The same defenses slowed down SARS-CoV-2 infection even without rhinovirus, but only if the infectious dose was low, suggesting that the viral load at the time of exposure makes a difference in whether the body can effectively fight the infection.
The researchers also studied nasal swab samples from patients diagnosed close to the start of infection. They found evidence of rapid growth of SARS-CoV-2 in the first few days of infection, followed by activation of the body’s defenses. According to their findings, the virus typically increased rapidly for the first few days of infection, before host defenses kicked in, doubling about every six hours; in some patients the virus grew even faster.
“There appears to be a viral sweet spot at the beginning of COVID-19, during which the virus replicates exponentially before it triggers a strong defense response,” Foxman said.
Interferon treatment holds promise but it could be tricky, she said, because it would be mostly effective in the days immediately after infection, when many people exhibit no symptoms. In theory, interferon treatment could be used prophylactically in people at high risk who have been in close contact with others diagnosed with COVID-19. Trials of interferon in COVID-19 are underway, and so far show a possible benefit early in infection, but not when given later.
These findings may help explain why at times of year when colds are common, rates of infections with other viruses such as influenza tend to be lower, Foxman said. There are concerns that as social distancing measures ease, common cold and flu viruses — which have been dormant over the past year — will come back in greater force. Interference among respiratory viruses could be a mitigating factor, creating an “upper limit” on the degree to which respiratory viruses co-circulate, she said.
“There are hidden interactions between viruses that we don’t quite understand, and these findings are a piece of the puzzle we are just now looking at,” Foxman said.
Nagarjuna R. Cheemarla, a postdoctoral associate in Foxman’s lab, was first author of the study, which was carried out by a team of Yale scientists in the departments of laboratory medicine, immunobiology, and genetics.
Other Yale authors included Timothy Watkins, Valia Mihaylova, Bao Wang, Marie Landry, Dejian Zhao, and Guilin Wang.
I think that anything that “wakes up” or strengthens the immune system will help be prepared for COVID-19 exposure. That includes pneumonia vaccine, tuberculosis vaccine, having the flu or a cold or getting COVID-19 vaccination.
I’m sure I’ve read that the cold is also caused by a type of corona virus. How does that work or not?
**
Whatever....I’m so sick of all this navel gazing...while the commies take over.
Everything dripping from your nose makes it hard to get in too.
Maybe instead of masks, we should protect others by dribbling all over them.
There are many viruses that can cause the cold, and many coronaviruses can cause the common cold.
What we call the common cold is caused by a half dozen different viruses, half of which are rhinoviruses and the other half corona viruses.
So even though Covid is a new to humans virus it’s not like the human race hasn’t danced to this tune before and doesn’t know the steps.
Pretty much anything will kill Covid except for the vaccines
you are correct, and there were papers -- back in spring of 2020 -- showing that it is the exposure to those other coronaviruses that creates immunity.
it is also correct that about 1/3 of common cold cases are causes by rhinoviruses (==flu viruses). Whether they can create immunity to COVIS is imho questionable--different creatures, really.
““There are hidden interactions between viruses that we don’t quite understand, and these findings are a piece of the puzzle we are just now looking at,” Foxman said.”
Not surprised. They haven’t cured the common cold either. It will be quite a while before they completely figure out covid-19.
I just knew it, that a snotty and runny nose has to be good for something.
What about BCG shots?
Finally.
But there are 4 coronavirus cold viruses.
Is one better than the others.
A possibility I raised way back in Feb/Mar 2020, is whether giving everyone a coronavirus cold, would be a form of natural vaccination.
Glad to see someone finally tested the idea.
Yes, that’s a tuberculosis vaccine and certainly revs up the immune system.
I suspect governments know Covid-19 is a bio-weapon manufactured in a lab which is why they don't want to talk about the origins and why governments are concerned.
This bio-weapon was either accidentally or purposefully released. As a manufactured bio-weapon they don't know how it will act hence the panic by governments and heath care agencies.
I recall several years ago a young scientist discovered the rhinovirus could target certain cancer cells. The research looked extremely promising.
Then...crickets.
Ditto.
Well, I’m safe this week...achoo
Excellent!
I’m in the middle of post nasal drip, croupy cough and still have my senses of smell & taste!
(and three tubes of Apple-flavored oatmeal with 1.87% Ivermectin under the bathroom sink)
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