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The article discusses how Irish scientists have identified a key immune evasion mechanism used by the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). This discovery could lead to new treatments for a virus that causes significant disease burden globally, especially in children and the elderly. The researchers found that RSV suppresses a vital biological pathway in cells, preventing the activation of key immune system responses. This finding has potential implications for the development of more effective drugs targeting RSV.
Irish scientists led by a group from Trinity College Dublin have discovered how the dangerous Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) defuses our immune response and, in doing so, they have pinpointed an exciting new target for drug developers.
RSV causes a significant disease burden in the global population, with an estimated 33.1 million cases each year, and is the leading cause of infant bronchiolitis and viral pneumonia. It is also particularly problematic for children and elderly people, with treatment options limited and relatively ineffective.Â
Working with human airway epithelial cells, the team of scientists has discovered that RSV suppresses a key biological pathway in our cells (called “the JAK/STAT pathway”) and prevents key “immune system igniters” from moving into the nuclei of cells. These igniters are ordinarily activated by interferon-alpha, our own natural antiviral.
Nigel Stevenson, Assistant Professor of Virology Immunology in Trinity’s School of Biochemistry and Immunology, is the senior author of the research article that has just been published in leading journal Frontiers in Immunology. Nigel, who is based in the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute (TBSI), said:
“Interferon-alpha, which activates signals in our cells through the JAK/STAT pathway, is responsible for kick-starting hundreds of antiviral genes into action, which then target the virus in a number of different ways. So when RSV prevents interferon from communicating to these genes the virus slams the brakes on our immune response, which can result in the virus taking hold and quite quickly causing very serious medical issues.
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“Our discovery is an exciting