British researchers say the virus that causes the common cold can effectively drive the new coronavirus out of human cells.
There is also competition between viruses. We already know that some viruses compete with other viruses to be the “winner” of an infection.
Competition mechanisms
Scientists at the University of Glasgow in England say that rhinovirus, which causes colds, appears to be able to outcompete the new coronavirus.
They add that while the benefits may be short-lived, because rhinovirus is so widespread, it may still help keep the new crown at bay.
For example, you can think of the cells in your nose, throat and lungs as a row of houses. Once a virus breaks in, it can either leave the door open to let other viruses in, or it can keep the door shut and enjoy its new Home all to itself.
Influenza is one of the “most selfish” viruses known, and it almost always infects alone. Some other viruses, such as adenovirus, seem to prefer to share space with other viruses.
There has been widespread speculation about how Sars-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the new crown, will fit into this mysterious world of “viral interactions.
The challenge for scientists is that a year of social detachment slows the spread of all viruses, making their research efforts more difficult.
Viral interactions
The team at the Glasgow Virus Research Centre used replicas of the same type of cells as the lining of the human respiratory tract in their experiments, and then infected them with the new coronavirus and rhinovirus (the virus that causes the common cold).
It turned out that if both viruses were used at the same Time, only the rhinovirus could successfully infect the cells; if the rhinovirus was released first 24 hours in advance, then the new coronavirus would have no chance to invade; even if the new coronavirus was released 24 hours in advance to let it start first, the rhinovirus would kick it out.
Dr. Murcia told the BBC that the neo-coronavirus would be strongly suppressed by the rhinovirus, making it impossible to spread.
Dr. Murcia explained that this result is definitely exciting because if the rhinovirus infection rate is high it could potentially prevent new new coronavirus infections.
There is a precedent
Similar situations have happened before. For example, a large rhinovirus outbreak may have delayed the 2009 swine flu pandemic in parts of Europe.
Further tests showed that rhinovirus could induce an immune response within infected cells that blocked the ability of new coronaviruses to replicate.
And when scientists blocked the immune response, the level of new coronavirus was as high as it would have been without rhinovirus.
A “harsh winter” ahead?
However, once the cold has passed and the immune response has calmed down, it is possible that the new crown will cause infection again.
Dr. Murcia said that vaccination, coupled with hygiene measures and interaction between viruses may greatly reduce the rate of infection of new crown, but the most effective method is still vaccination.
Professor Lawrence Young of Warwick Medical School said human rhinovirus is the most common cause of colds and is “extremely contagious.”
He added that (this new study suggests) that this common infection can have an impact on 2019 coronavirus disease and can influence the spread of new crowns, especially in the autumn and winter months when seasonal colds are more frequent.
However, it is not possible to know exactly how the spread of various viruses will change in the coming winter months.
New coronaviruses may still be present, and all other infections that were suppressed during the pandemic may also rebound as immunity declines.
Public health England’s Dr. Hopkins has therefore issued a “severe winter” warning about this.
She said, “We could see a surge in influenza. We could see a surge in other respiratory viruses and other respiratory pathogens,” she said.
The results of the University of Glasgow study have been published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.
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