The common "cough virus" actually manipulates host immune genes

Almost everyone will be repeatedly infected with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) throughout their lives, starting from childhood

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St.

The results of this study were published on October 12 in the "Cell Reports" (Cell Reports), pointing out new strategies to prevent or treat respiratory syncytial virus infection, and may even explain why severe respiratory syncytial virus infection increases people's suffering.

"RSV is a serious health burden

RSV is a very common virus

Prior to this study, RSV researchers had used NS1 as one of the weapons used by the virus to fight the body's defenses

To find out, co-first author Dr.

Co-first author Dr.

"NS1 not only floats around the nucleus, it also interacts with proteins that regulate gene expression," Payton said

By elucidating the details of how NS1 manipulates gene expression, this study provides key data that may help develop drugs or vaccines against this protein

Payton said: "Once a cell-any cell, not just an immune cell-encounters an infection, its epigenome changes, allowing it to respond faster the next time it encounters an infection

Cell Reports

DOI

10.