A new study conducted by the Centre for Virus Research at the University of Glasgow, UK, for the first time, found that two common respiratory viruses can fuse together in human cells and produce a new pathogen that can escape attacks on the body's immune system.
According to a study published in the UK's journal Natural Microbiology on October 24, the British MRC-Glasgow Virus Research Center used influenza A virus (IAV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) to co-infect human lung cells. It was found that the two viruses from different families did not compete with each other, but fused into a new palm-like hybrid virus - respiratory syncytial virus to form a tree trunk, and influenza A virus to form leaves.
According to the study, this is the first time that researchers have observed this "hybrid virus" in history. Although co-infection, i.e., one person is infected with both viruses at the same time, is quite common, there was little data on how different viruses react within the same cell before this study.
Influenza A virus (IAV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) mixed into a new virus
"Respiratory viruses generally target the same area of the human body, just like they have their own ecological niche," said Dr. Joanne Hani, who led the study. "We need to understand how this hybrid virus is produced in each other's environment in order to have a more comprehensive understanding of the biological properties of each virus." The
study shows that the "hybrid virus" combines the genome and external proteins of influenza A virus and respiratory syncytial virus. Moreover, this new virus can escape the attack of the human immune system and can also contact and infect more nearby lung cells. But since the study was conducted using a lab-cultured cell layer, scientists hope to continue to explore whether the "hybrid virus" will form in patients with co-infection.
Analyses pointed out that this "hybrid virus" may increase the chance of suffering from influenza and triggering severe lung infection . The findings may help explain why some co-infections can lead to a significant worsening of the disease in some patients, the researchers say. Researchers are also trying to explore what role the novel virus plays in viral pneumonia , which is difficult to treat and potentially fatal, and is often believed to be caused by the influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus and coronavirus .
Every year, about 5 million people worldwide are hospitalized for influenza A, and respiratory syncytial virus is the main cause of acute lower respiratory tract infection of in children under 5 years old, and may also cause serious illness in some children and adults. It is also reported that the medical systems in several states have been overwhelmed by the surge in influenza cases and respiratory syncytial virus infection in the United States recently.
"What we need to know is whether this happens only in influenza A and respiratory syncytial viruses, and will other viruses also have this combination?" said Professor Pablo Murcia, who supervised the study. "My guess is that this is true, and it will also expand to animal viruses. Our research is just the beginning, and it will be a long journey."
Red Star News reporter Ding Wen
Editor Yu Dongmei Wang He
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