A study reveals that the rhinovirus, causing the common cold, can infect immune cells in the tonsils and adenoids, remaining dormant for extended periods without symptoms. This persistence allows for unexpected transmission and triggers new outbreaks, particularly among children, who are a primary mode of transmission to grandparents.
Researchers created lab-grown human nasal tissue to study the defense mechanisms against rhinoviruses. They found that cells in the nasal lining produce interferons, which induce a coordinated antiviral defense, controlling viral replication and reducing damage.
Public Health Alerts provide concise, data-driven information on disease outbreaks and urgent health events. The new series, launched by NEJM Evidence and CIDRAP, offers expert-reviewed reports to support public health evidence-based care.
Researchers have developed a research pipeline to create 'universal vaccines' that can address broad viral families and mutated variants. The vaccine design aims to neutralize emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and other viruses with pandemic potential.
Researchers have identified a combination of drugs that prevents enteroviruses from replicating, which could lead to an effective treatment for global health problem. The combination includes pleconaril, AG7404, and mindeudesivir, which shows great potential for finding broad-spectrum treatment methods against enteroviruses.
A new study has found that sleep debt and night shifts increase the risk of several common infections in nurses. The research, which analyzed data from 1,335 Norwegian nurses, reveals a clear link between slept debt, night work, and infection risk.
A study published by the European Respiratory Society found that hypertonic saline nasal drops reduced the length of the common cold in children by an average of two days. The treatment also reduced the need for medicines during illness and decreased family members catching a cold.
Research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine reveals that nearly a quarter of children with recurrent wheezing have undetected lung infections that do not respond to commonly prescribed steroids. The study suggests that antiviral medications such as azithromycin may be a more effective treatment for these cases.
Researchers found that frequent respiratory infections in children may have elevated their innate immune activity, protecting them from severe COVID-19 symptoms. The study suggests that childhood exposure to common cold viruses and bacteria boosted the kids' immune systems, allowing them to better fight off SARS-CoV-2.
A new Cochrane review suggests that taking zinc may reduce the duration of common cold symptoms by around two days, but the evidence is not conclusive. Common side-effects include bowel problems, nausea, and unpleasant taste.
SourceCochrane·JournalCochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·TypeSystematic review·DateMay 8, 2024
La Jolla Institute researchers discovered that prior exposure to a common cold coronavirus partially protects mice from lung damage during a subsequent SARS-CoV-2 infection. Harnessing 'cross-reactive' T cells may lead to novel vaccines with broad, pan-coronavirus protection.
A study by Mass General Brigham researchers found that patients with rheumatic diseases who developed long COVID were more likely to have expanded, pro-inflammatory antibodies specific to a coronavirus that causes the common cold. The team identified OC43 as a potential biomarker for long COVID.
RSV virus remains infectious on surfaces for up to seven days, emphasizing the need for regular disinfection. Effective hand sanitizers with at least 30% alcohol content can inactivate the virus.
Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology have found that T cells can recognize shared viral targets between multiple coronaviruses, including common cold coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2. This cross-reactivity could be harnessed to develop vaccines that protect against multiple types of coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet discovered that children's memory T cells react to SARS-CoV-2, providing immunity against COVID-19. The study found strong cross-reactivity between coronaviruses causing common colds and SARS-CoV-2.
A study of 104 Polish children found that higher daily physical activity levels were associated with reduced symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections. Children who engaged in more sports and took longer walks experienced fewer days with respiratory tract infection symptoms.
Researchers have identified a compound that shows early promise at halting infections from a range of coronaviruses, including all variants of SARS-CoV-2 and the common cold. The findings reveal a potential path toward antiviral treatments that could be used against many different pathogens.
A newly discovered immune response inside the nose fights off viruses, but is suppressed by colder temperatures, making an infection more likely to occur. The study offers the first biological mechanism to explain why viruses like COVID-19 spike in colder seasons.
Researchers mapped the spread of pathogens in wild macaque populations near human settlements, finding that monkeys with high human interactions cause larger outbreaks. The study used computer simulations to predict disease transmission and identified key factors influencing outbreak size.
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have made significant progress in designing a pan-coronavirus vaccine that targets the S2 area of the spike protein, offering protection against multiple coronaviruses and potential future pandemics. The study found that antibodies targeting this area can neutralize a range of coronaviruses, i...
A new study found that adults have stable immune memory to common cold coronaviruses, which could lead to similar protection against SARS-CoV-2. The findings suggest that COVID-19 booster shots may be critical for long-term immunity.
Researchers found that sulforaphane inhibits replication of SARS-CoV-2 and HCoV-OC43 coronaviruses in cells and mice, reducing viral burden by up to 50%. Sulforaphane also helps control immune response and protects against lung injury.
Researchers found that T cells induced by previous common cold coronavirus infections can recognize and target internal proteins of SARS-CoV-2, providing a potential new vaccine target. This immunity offers long-lasting protection as T cell responses persist longer than antibody responses.
A new review suggests zinc can reduce the duration of acute viral respiratory tract infections like the common cold and flu. Zinc use has also been linked to reducing symptom severity, particularly during peak illness days.
A study by Northwestern University scientists has shown that coronavirus vaccines and prior infections can provide broad immunity against other, similar coronaviruses. The findings build a rationale for universal coronavirus vaccines.
Researchers found that prior exposure to common cold coronaviruses boosts the body's immune response to SARS-CoV-2, with cross-reactive T cells recognized by the immune system. The study's findings suggest a protective effect against severe disease and improved vaccine efficacy in younger individuals.
The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically altered the annual circulation patterns of influenza and the common cold. Expanded genomic and clinical surveillance is necessary to understand post-COVID-19 transmission patterns of these pathogens.
A team of scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore discovered that the protein NLRP1 detects the human rhinovirus (HRV) and triggers an immune response leading to inflammation in the lungs.
A study found that individuals with a previous infection from a different type of coronavirus had less severe COVID-19 symptoms and were more likely to survive. However, this immunity did not prevent them from getting infected with SARS-CoV-2.
A study by Yale researchers found that rhinovirus, the common cold virus, can prevent influenza virus from infecting airways by triggering antiviral defenses. This finding helps explain why there was no surge in swine flu cases in Europe during a similar period when the common cold became widespread.
A study found that some healthy individuals have immune cells capable of recognizing SARS-CoV-2 due to prior infections with 'common cold' coronaviruses. Cross-reactive T-helper cells may provide a protective effect, but could also lead to misdirected immune responses.
A study by UTSA researchers found a significant link between cultural values and how individuals express illness. Participants who identified as stoics or had lower household incomes were more likely to claim being sick. The study's findings have implications for understanding sickness behavior and its relationship with social norms.
A recent study published in BMJ Open found that zinc lozenges did not shorten the duration of common colds, contradicting previous findings. The researchers suggest further research is needed to determine optimal dosage and type of lozenges for effectiveness.
A new study by UK researchers found that people with one virus are less likely to catch another common cold-causing virus. The interaction is thought to occur both at an individual and population level, which could help improve forecasting models and disease control strategies.
Researchers analyzed respiratory illness cases and found competition between respiratory viruses may explain declining common cold infections during winter. This finding can help improve forecasting and understanding of circulation trends and infection risks.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that a common cold virus can infect cells from human placentas, suggesting a possible link between maternal infection and fetal lung infections. Researchers suspect RSV could attack lung tissue within the fetus, potentially predisposing offspring to asthma.
The study found that temporarily disabling SETD3, a crucial protein needed for enteroviral replication, can protect against viral diseases. In mice bioengineered to lack SETD3, the viruses were unable to infect and replicate.
Experts advise against giving decongestants to children under 6 due to lack of evidence on their effectiveness. Instead, doctors should reassure patients that symptoms are self-limiting and will pass in a few days.
Researchers found that a specific part of the spike protein, called the RBD, is crucial for infection but also targets by antibodies. The RBD has three long loops that vary between strains, allowing it to modulate its affinity with host cells and evade immunity.
Two randomized trials found that zinc lozenges reduced common cold duration by an average of 4.0 days and 1.77 days, but applying these effects to placebo groups resulted in impossible durations when using absolute scales. In contrast, percentage effects of 43% and 25% were realistic and more informative for communicating findings.
A meta-analysis of three randomized controlled trials shows that zinc acetate lozenges can increase the recovery rate from the common cold by 3 fold. The studies found no adverse effects at doses up to 92mg/day, making them a potentially effective treatment option.
A study found that higher doses of vitamin C, particularly 8g per day, significantly reduced the duration of common cold symptoms. The findings suggest a dose-dependent effect and could lead to improved treatment options for individuals with common colds.
A new study found that rhinovirus, a common cause of the 'common cold', can lead to pneumonia and death in bone marrow transplant patients. The virus is more common than previously thought and is often overlooked in this population.
Researchers at the University of York and others have cracked the 'Enigma Code' of the common cold virus by identifying a hidden decoding mechanism. The study suggests that a single drug could target all strains of the virus, offering a potential cure for conditions like polio and hand foot and mouth disease.
Researchers have found that common cold coronaviruses originate from camels, similar to the MERS virus. The study suggests a potential scenario for MERS emergence and highlights the need for a vaccine against MERS.
Research reveals three coronavirus species co-existing in camels in Saudi Arabia, including one closely related to the human 229E virus. The study also finds that young camels are more susceptible to respiratory infections and that winter is the peak season for virus replication.
A study from Carnegie Mellon University found that self-rated health accurately predicts susceptibility to the common cold in healthy adults. Those with better self-rated health were more resistant to developing a cold, despite accounting for socioemotional factors and health practices.
A new study confirms that insufficient sleep is connected to a greater likelihood of catching a cold. Adults who slept less than six hours a night were four times more likely to catch the cold compared to those who got more than seven hours of sleep.
High-dose zinc acetate lozenges have been found to shorten symptoms of the common cold, such as nasal discharge by 34% and cough by 54%. The treatment was effective in reducing muscle ache by 54%, but had no impact on headache and fever.
Researchers found that the common cold virus, rhinovirus, replicates more efficiently in cooler temperatures, such as inside the nose. The study suggests that lower body temperature impairs the innate immune response to the virus, making it easier for the virus to replicate.
Researchers developed new mathematical tools to understand virus symmetry, revealing insights into viral genome and protein capsid interaction. This work also applies to carbon onions, providing a basis for nanotechnology applications.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have created a WiFi virus called 'Chameleon' that can spread rapidly between homes and businesses, evading detection by encryption and passwords. The virus exploits weaknesses in WiFi networks to propagate quickly across densely populated areas.
Handwashing and zinc are likely effective in preventing colds, with some evidence suggesting they also work for adults. Antihistamines combined with decongestants and pain medications can provide relief from symptoms, while ibuprofen and acetaminophen help with pain and fever.
Researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison have created a highly detailed structural model of the rhinovirus C, which is responsible for up to half of all childhood colds. The new model shows that the virus has distinct surface features that make it difficult for drugs to effectively target it.
Researchers have identified a group of compounds that work against human rhinovirus, Coxsackie virus, poliovirus, and enterovirus-71, blocking the ability of these viruses to multiply. These broad-spectrum antiviral drugs hold promise for treating infections like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University identified a biological marker, telomere length, that predicts resistance to the common cold in young and midlife adults. Telomeres shorten as people age, but their length also becomes a predictor of disease susceptibility starting at around age 22.
New research suggests antibiotics do not effectively treat coughs caused by the common cold in children. Peripheral antitussives, such as levodropropizine, appear to be more effective in relieving cough symptoms. The American College of Chest Physicians recommends these treatments for certain types of cough.
Researchers at University of Leeds discover crucial stage in virus lifecycle where RNA folds to fit into protein shell. This process could lead to novel anti-viral drugs less susceptible to resistance.
A new treatment has been developed to help prevent asthma attacks in asthmatics by boosting their immune systems. The study found that a simple inhalation of an immune system protein molecule can significantly reduce worsening asthma symptoms and the need to use an asthma inhaler.
A recent study found that asymptomatic rhinovirus infections were present in up to 60.5% of university students during an 8-week period, highlighting the potential for silent transmission. Researchers detected significantly lower viral loads in asymptomatic cases compared to symptomatic ones.