Babies at risk of a serious lung infection could be helped by a therapy based on the body's natural immune defenses. Scientists have found that a compound produced by the body's immune system can kill the virus that causes the disease, known as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Their study, which involved mice and healthy adults, suggests that treatments that encourage the immune system to produce more of this compound could help to protect infected babies from developing a life-threatening illness. Such treatments could also protect elderly people with respiratory or cardiovascular disease, who are vulnerable to the infection.
About one-third of all children become ill from RSV infection before the age of 2. In some cases, the infection can develop into a life-threatening illness that requires hospital attention.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh found that the compound -- called cathelicidin -- directly attacks virus particles, stopping them from binding to and infecting the body's cells.
Mice that cannot produce cathelicidin are more susceptible to RSV, the team found. However, treating them with the compound at the same time as infection with RSV stops the animals from becoming ill.
The study from the University's MRC Center for Inflammation Research also showed that healthy adults who produce lower levels of cathelicidin in their nose are more susceptible to RSV infection. This suggests that the compound could prove useful as a therapy for people, the researchers say.
Scientists now plan to investigate why some people produce more cathelicidin than others, in the hope that they can find new ways of boosting natural production of the compound.
RSV infection causes a respiratory illness called bronchiolitis in young children that results in breathing difficulties and wheezing. Millions of infants around the world are affected each year.
The disease is common in winter and also affects older people, especially those with heart and lung diseases and those with compromised immune systems, such as cancer patients.
The study, to be published in the latest issue of the Journal of Immunology, was funded by the Medical Research Council.
Dr. Donald Davidson says, "Our study shows that boosting the body's natural defenses could be a useful therapeutic approach to stop RSV infection from turning into a life-threatening infection in babies and vulnerable adults."
Source: University of Edinburgh
CDC Urges Vigilance: New Recommendations for Monitoring and Testing H5N1 Exposures
July 11th 2025With avian influenza A(H5N1) infections surfacing in both animals and humans, the CDC has issued updated guidance calling for aggressive monitoring and targeted testing to contain the virus and protect public health.
IP LifeLine: Layoffs and the Evolving Job Market Landscape for Infection Preventionists
July 11th 2025Infection preventionists, once hailed as indispensable during the pandemic, now face a sobering reality: budget pressures, hiring freezes, and layoffs are reshaping the field, leaving many IPs worried about their future and questioning their value within health care organizations.
A Helping Hand: Innovative Approaches to Expanding Hand Hygiene Programs in Acute Care Settings
July 9th 2025Who knew candy, UV lights, and a college kid in scrubs could double hand hygiene adherence? A Pennsylvania hospital’s creative shake-up of its infection prevention program shows that sometimes it takes more than soap to get hands clean—and keep them that way.