Hybrid virus from influenza and RSV: a virus that bypasses immune protection! How dangerous is the pathogen?

It is not uncommon for two respiratory viruses to infect a human being at the same time. Until now, researchers have not been able to explain how co-infection occurs and how pathogens interact in an organism. A team of researchers from the University of Glasgow has found the first clues to the mechanism behind it. Accordingly, two viruses merge with each other and bypass the immune system, which can aggravate the course of the disease.

Researchers discover hybrid viruses of influenza and RSV

Respiratory viruses are intended to infect an area of ​​the body. So they are also in a kind of community. “We need to understand how these infections occur in relation to each other in order to get a fuller picture of their respective biology.” virus To get “quotes”guardiansTo understand this process, study leader Dr. Joanne Haney infected lung cells with influenza A and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and then the two viruses fused together, the scientists said in the study published in Nature Microbiology.

The hybrid virus is said to promote a fatal lung infection

“This type of hybrid virus has not been described before,” said Professor Pablo Murcia, who led the study. “These are viruses from two completely different families that combine with the genomes and exogenous proteins of both viruses. It is a new type of viral agent.” What was also amazing about the contact was that the hybrid virus was able to infiltrate neighboring cells and even bypass antibodies against the influenza virus. For this, RSV proteins that infected other lung cells were used.

Dr. suggests Stephen Griffin d. Stephen Griffin, a virologist at the University of Leeds. In the worst cases, a lung infection can be fatal. In general, the influenza virus does not penetrate deeply and is more likely to infect the nose, throat, or trachea. However, RSV penetrates deeper into the lung tissue. According to Griffin, more research is needed to prove that hybrid viruses can cause serious diseases. The research team now wants to see if not only influenza and RSV, but also other viral combinations can form hybrids. “I think that is the case. And I think that is the case with animals as well [Viren] The case is. “This is just the beginning of a long journey that we hope will bring very exciting discoveries,” Murcia said.

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