Irish Scientists Pinpoint New Drug Target for RSV
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Loading... - Jendayi Gad
- 24 Jul 2024
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Irish scientists have made a significant breakthrough in understanding how Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) undermines our immune system, leading to the identification of a promising new target for drug development. RSV is a major global health concern, causing approximately 33.1 million cases annually and being the primary cause of infant bronchiolitis and viral pneumonia. The virus poses severe risks to both children and the elderly, with current treatments being limited and not highly effective. Although some RSV vaccines have recently been approved in Europe, they are not yet available through the Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland.
The research team, working with human airway epithelial cells, discovered that RSV suppresses a crucial biological pathway in our cells, known as the JAK/STAT pathway. This suppression prevents key "immune system igniters" from entering the nuclei of cells, which are normally activated by interferon-alpha, our natural antiviral agent.
Nigel Stevenson, Assistant Professor of Virology Immunology in Trinity's School of Biochemistry and Immunology, is the senior author of the research article published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology. Based at the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute (TBSI), Nigel explained the significance of their findings:
"Interferon-alpha activates signals in our cells through the JAK/STAT pathway, which then initiates hundreds of antiviral genes to combat the virus in various ways. When RSV blocks interferon from communicating with these genes, it essentially halts our immune response, allowing the virus to take hold and potentially cause severe health issues quickly.
"Our discovery is a significant revelation because it identifies the JAK/STAT pathway as a prime target for therapeutic immune restoration. This new knowledge is invaluable to drug developers, as understanding how a virus evades our immune system is crucial for creating effective treatments.
"We predict that a therapeutic targeting this pathway could significantly improve the treatment of RSV and possibly clear an RSV infection. This would be a much-needed solution for both children and the elderly, who are particularly vulnerable to this dangerous virus."
This breakthrough offers hope for more effective treatments and underscores the importance of continued research in the fight against RSV.
