Scientists Have Cracked Part of the Cold Mystery, But There's Still Much to Be Learned.
The common cold has long been a mystery to scientists, with some people suffering from mild sniffles and others falling ill with severe complications. A new study published in Cell Press Blue has shed some light on why this is the case, revealing that it's not just the virus itself that determines the severity of the illness, but rather an early immune response within the body.
According to the researchers at Yale Medicine, who grew miniature tissue structures called organoids from human nasal cells and introduced rhinovirus into these models, a protein called interferon plays a crucial role in determining the outcome. Interferons are proteins produced by the body to fight off infections, and when they're produced in adequate amounts, they can keep the virus mild. However, if these proteins are weak or inhibited, the virus becomes more severe, leading to complications such as asthma attacks, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
But why do some people produce sufficient interferons to block rhinovirus while others don't? Researchers say it's still unclear, but they're working to understand this phenomenon. In their study, they found that when the interferon response was inhibited with a drug, the virus became more severe in the lab models, similar to what happens in people with chronic airway diseases who have lower levels of interferons.
The good news is that prevention remains key. The best defense against rhinovirus is hand washing, and people should seek medical attention if they experience shortness of breath, wheezing, or a high fever for more than three days. Currently, there's no vaccine available to prevent the common cold, but research into this area continues.
While scientists have made progress in understanding the immune response behind the common cold, much work remains to be done. By studying the mechanisms that drive disease outcomes and identifying potential treatments, researchers hope to develop new strategies for preventing and treating this widespread illness.
The common cold has long been a mystery to scientists, with some people suffering from mild sniffles and others falling ill with severe complications. A new study published in Cell Press Blue has shed some light on why this is the case, revealing that it's not just the virus itself that determines the severity of the illness, but rather an early immune response within the body.
According to the researchers at Yale Medicine, who grew miniature tissue structures called organoids from human nasal cells and introduced rhinovirus into these models, a protein called interferon plays a crucial role in determining the outcome. Interferons are proteins produced by the body to fight off infections, and when they're produced in adequate amounts, they can keep the virus mild. However, if these proteins are weak or inhibited, the virus becomes more severe, leading to complications such as asthma attacks, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
But why do some people produce sufficient interferons to block rhinovirus while others don't? Researchers say it's still unclear, but they're working to understand this phenomenon. In their study, they found that when the interferon response was inhibited with a drug, the virus became more severe in the lab models, similar to what happens in people with chronic airway diseases who have lower levels of interferons.
The good news is that prevention remains key. The best defense against rhinovirus is hand washing, and people should seek medical attention if they experience shortness of breath, wheezing, or a high fever for more than three days. Currently, there's no vaccine available to prevent the common cold, but research into this area continues.
While scientists have made progress in understanding the immune response behind the common cold, much work remains to be done. By studying the mechanisms that drive disease outcomes and identifying potential treatments, researchers hope to develop new strategies for preventing and treating this widespread illness.
"The biggest risk is not taking any risk." - Mark Zuckerberg 
? It's wild that scientists have finally figured out how interferon levels affect the severity of the illness, but it's also kinda obvious – I've had my fair share of sniffles and coughs over the years, and I'm pretty sure I know why some people get sicker than others. The fact that hand washing is still the best defense against rhinovirus is a no-brainer 
. It's great to hear that researchers are working on new strategies for prevention and treatment, but it'll be interesting to see how far they take this. Maybe one day we can look back on the common cold as just another minor bug of the past 
.
. Like, we all know someone who gets a cold and is out in no time, while others are stuck on the couch for weeks 
. It's like their immune system just has a superpower 
. Anyway, I'm glad they're working on understanding this stuff, but come on, a vaccine would be awesome 
!
. Is it genetics? Lifestyle? I wish we had more answers to these questions 
. It's also interesting that researchers are exploring new ways to prevent and treat the common cold – fingers crossed for some game-changing breakthroughs soon 
.
. I mean, we've all been there - one minute you're feeling fine, the next you're sniffling like crazy and stuck in bed with a box of tissues.
.
!
it's crazy! 
and according to a study by yale medicine, the severity of the cold is determined by how well ur body responds 2 the virus 
hand washing, check! 
. it's also cool that researchers are working on vaccines 
.
common cold by age group
. Like, who doesn't love a good game of viral roulette? Anyway, back to the science... it's actually kinda cool that they were able to grow mini tissue structures from human nasal cells 
I mean, its not just about washing your hands all day or having a magic cure 
. I mean, we thought we knew so much about the common cold, but it turns out there's still a lot we don't understand about why some people get milder symptoms while others are stuck in the ICU 
. One thing's for sure though, prevention is key and hand washing is still the best defense against rhinovirus 
researchers need 2 keep workin on dat ASAP.
. I mean, think about it - if you've ever had a mild cold and then your body was like "nope, got this" and made those interferon proteins show up, congratulations! You just saved yourself from getting a full-blown cold 
.