The Mice

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scientists think they have found a way to stop the common cold, and closely related viruses that can cause paralysis.

Instead of trying to attack them directly, the researchers replicate a specific essential protein in our cells that need The Virus to.

The concept gave "complete Protection ", which in experiments on mice and human lung cells.

But, the US American researchers are not ready for tests in humans.

common cold challenge

the fight of the common cold to a massive problem in medicine.

the Most common colds caused by the Rhino virus, but there are around 160 different species, and you mutate it so easy to quickly resistant to drugs, or learn to hide from the immune system.

This led to the idea of "host-directed Therapy " - in principle, our body makes too inhospitable for the common cold viruses.

A single virus may not have everything it needs to replicate. Instead, she relies on to infect another cell and steal some of the parts inside.

It is the reason why The Scientists still argue whether viruses are alive.

A team at Stanford University and the University of California, San Francisco , One of the found components that were virus-dependent.

Viral dependence on

scientists with the human cells, And Then gene editing to disable instructions within our DNA-One -by-One .

These modified cells were then a number of enteroviruses exposed to the Rhino virus, the cause of the common cold, and more dangerous viruses closely related to polio belong and can cause paralysis.

All of the viruses were able to replicate in cells, the off the instructions for a protein (called methyltransferase SETD3).

The researchers then created genetically engineered mice that were completely unable to produce the protein.

"the Lack of this gene protected The Mice said in full, prior to Virus infection," associate professor Jan Carette, Stanford, the BBC.

"These mice would die without the Mutation ], but they survived, and we saw a very strong reduction of viral replication and very strong Protection . "

The common cold virus has to stop as it would be incredibly difficult to

The protein of these viruses were dependent, usually a role has organized in the complex "scaffold" inside The Body 's cells, the so-called cytoskeleton.

The findings showed that the genetically modified mice were healthy, in spite of a lack of the protein for your whole life.

when will we get a cure?

The Plan is not to be found for the production of genetically modified humans, but a drug that can temporarily suppress the protein, and provide Protection .

"We have found a fantastic goal that all entero-need viruses and Rhino viruses and straighten up. You Take That away and The Virus really has no chance," said Prof Carette.

He added: "This is a really good first Step - the second Step is a chemical that mimics this genetic deletion.

"I think the development can be done relatively quickly. "

Exactly, what role the protein plays in the viral replication is still unclear and requires further research.

For Most People , a cold is more of an inconvenience than a threat to your health, but for asthmatics it can make your symptoms much worse and some of the enteroviruses may lead to paralysis, if they spread to The Brain .

Prof Jonathan Ball , a virologist at the University of Nottingham, who was not involved in The Work , said the study was "neat", but scientists need to be able to be sure that the approach was safe.

"There is a growing interest in the development of new forms of Therapy that these host proteins, because it can overcome potentially virus - Mutation - One of the biggest obstacles for the development of effective broadly active antivirals.

"But, of course, viruses are very adaptable, and it is conceivable that a host-targeting treatment could not keep at Bay for long. "

follow James .

genetics, respiratory diseases, medical research

Source of news: bbc.com