The immune response from the common cold virus that offers a degree of protection against coronavirus may be “influential across the population”, according to a new study.
Research by scientists in Glasgow, funded by the Medical Examination Council (MRC), has shown that the human rhinovirus stimulates a native response that appears to block the SARS-CoV- replica. 2 in the cells of the respiratory tract.
However, as part of further studies, they ran mathematical simulations that show that such interactions and more and more rhinovirus could reduce the number of new Covid-19 cases.
Human rhinoviruses cause the common cold and are the most common respiratory viruses found in humans.
Professor Pablo Murcia, of the University of Glasgow’s MRC Virus Research Center, said: “Our research shows that human rhinovirus stimulates an innate immune response in human respiratory epithelial cells that inhibits reproduction of the Covid-19 virus, SARS-CoV- 2.
“This means that the immune response caused by common cold virus infections may provide a level of protection against SARS-CoV-2, inhibit the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and reduce the severity of Covid-19.
“The next step is to study what is happening at the molecular level in these viral interactions, to better understand their impact on the spread of disease.
“We can use this knowledge to our advantage, hopefully developing strategies and control measures for Covid-19 infections.
“In the meantime, vaccination is the best way to protect against Covid-19. ”
The paper, by researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and University College London, follows a similar study last year which also suggested that antibodies formed by the immune system during a common cold disease may provide some protection against Covid-19.