WASHINGTON – The virus of acute coryza (common cold) can activates immune system genes present in the inner lining of the nose, including some natural antiviral that might have any therapeutic use in future, researchers reported.
Of particular interest is a gene that controls a natural antiviral called viperin, said David Proud of the University of Calgary in Alberta, who led the study.
Viperin, which was discovered in the late nineties, has involvement in other viral infections than common cold, Proud said. “This had never been examined during rhinovirus infections,” he said.
Researchers gathered 35 people, who accept to be a part of study and agreed to be infected with a common cold virus called human rhinovirus 16.
After sometime of induced infection, the researchers take some cells of the inner lining from inside the volunteers’ noses and examine gene expression, or activity, in the cells.