How the frequent chilly could stop the unfold of the flu

New research suggests that the common cold may help prevent the spread of the flu and other respiratory viruses.

Over the past decade, advances in the detection of viral respiratory infections have made it possible to better diagnose these types of infections. In addition, these diagnostic test results provide valuable information that can be used to understand and investigate the mechanisms underlying the spread of viral respiratory infections.

Virus interference, where infection with one virus can provide temporary protection against infection with other viruses, is one such proposed mechanism for respiratory virus behavior and could explain how the common cold can help prevent the spread of the flu.

How virus interference works gained interest during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, when data from European countries showed that the expected spread of H1N1 swine flu was delayed or decreased due to the common cold circulation during the fall season. One study found that co-infection with two different respiratory viruses at the same time was low.

Researchers in the United States conducted an experimental infection study of the rhinovirus (common cold) and influenza A virus to better understand the co-infection behavior of these two respiratory viruses. Their results were published in The Lancet Microbe.

The researchers collected breath cell samples from healthy adults and cultivated them in the laboratory. They then infected some of the cells with the cold virus. After the infected cells were given time to incubate, the cells were also introduced into the influenza A virus. The researchers assessed how cells with previous exposure to the common cold responded and how cells without previous exposure responded to the influenza A virus.

The researchers found that previous exposure to the common cold virus reduced the ability of the influenza A virus to infect cells through antiviral defense mechanisms activated by infection with the common cold. These results are consistent with previous observations of low co-detection rates for respiratory viruses in patients.

While it is difficult to predict how one respiratory virus can affect the infectious behavior of another respiratory virus, this study provides clues as to how the common cold can help prevent the flu from spreading. It can also be used to aid future studies examining the phenomenon of virus interference and playing a role in disrupting epidemics.

It is important that, in connection with the current pandemic, the researchers are now investigating whether the common cold can also influence the ability and behavior of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, to be infected.

Written by Maggie Leung, PharmD

References:

Wu, A., Mihaylova, V. T., Landry, M. L. & Foxman, E. F. (2020). Interference between rhinovirus and influenza A virus: a clinical data analysis and an experimental infection study. The Lancet Microbe. doi: 10.1016 / s2666-5247 (20) 30114-2

Common cold fights influenza. (2020, September 4th). Retrieved on September 9, 2020 from https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-09/yu-fsr090120.php