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RSV and COVID-19 Trigger Different Immune Responses in Infants
RSV suppresses key infant immune functions including natural killer cells and inflammatory signals, potentially explaining its greater severity compared to SARS-CoV-2, researchers found.
- Published in Science Translational Medicine, the study reports that RSV and SARS-CoV-2 trigger different infant immune responses, with RSV seemingly suppressing immune activity, according to researchers.
- Researchers found RSV appears to reprogram parts of the infant immune system at the epigenetic level and suppresses systemic inflammation via epigenetic regulators.
- Using single-cell profiling, the team analyzed blood from 19 infants with RSV, 30 with SARS-CoV-2, and 17 healthy infants, finding RSV cases had fewer natural killer cells producing less interferon-gamma.
- Because RSV is immunosuppressive, clinicians say steroids should not be routinely given to infants hospitalized with RSV, as distinct immune profiles require different treatment strategies.
- The study provides a blueprint to guide future research and treatments worldwide, underscoring the urgent need given that five million children die before age 5, half in the first months due to infection, according to researchers.
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Respiratory Infection Immune Differences Point to Different Treatments
A U.S. study has provided evidence as to why steroids may be useful to treat certain respiratory viruses in babies but not others. The findings revealed different immune signatures for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which could help guide treatment. Interferon activation was common with both infections, the researchers report in Science Translational Medicine. But inflammation …
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Total News Sources22
Leaning Left1Leaning Right1Center11Last UpdatedBias Distribution84% Center
Bias Distribution
- 84% of the sources are Center
84% Center
C 84%
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