COVID Common Cold Virus Suppresses COVID-19

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Research indicates that human rhinovirus (HRV), which causes the common cold, may inhibit the replication of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. In laboratory experiments, cells infected with both HRV and SARS-CoV-2 showed a significant decline in SARS-CoV-2 levels, suggesting that HRV can suppress the virus's replication. This phenomenon may reflect a broader pattern of viral interference, where seasonal infections like colds and flu take turns infecting populations rather than occurring simultaneously. The discussion also touches on the current absence of flu and cold cases due to social distancing measures, highlighting the unusual dynamics of viral infections during the pandemic.
Tom.G
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I'll trade a cold for Covid-19 any time!

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/a-common-cold-virus-may-help-fight-covid-19

To find out, the researchers infected cultures of human respiratory cells in the lab with either SARS-CoV-2, an HRV, or both viruses at the same time.

The cultures closely mimicked the outer layer of cells, called the epithelium, that lines the airways of the lungs.

SARS-CoV-2 steadily multiplied in the cells that the team had infected with this virus alone. However, in cells also infected with HRV, the number of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles declined rapidly until they were undetectable just 48 hours after the initial infection.

In further experiments, the scientists found that HRV suppressed the replication of SARS-CoV-2, regardless of which virus infected the cells first.

Cheers,
Tom
 
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Well. I do understand the excitement, but with already observing the drift of the Sars-CoV-2, I'm not really sure we should force events which may result in a shift :nb)
 
This might be an early indicator of the rather strange phenomena of viral interference, it seems like most seasonal infections take turns at infecting the population rather than occurring together. It seems that the effects of a viral infection causes changes in the internal environment that effectively inhibits other viruses causing infection at the same time.
https://academic.oup.com/jid/article/212/11/1690/2911897
 
Tom.G said:
I'll trade a cold for Covid-19 any time!
With all the distancing, there's no flu going around. I guess it's the same with colds.
 
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Somebody just made a joke out of the topic. :oldgrumpy:
 
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-deadliest-spider-in-the-world-ends-lives-in-hours-but-its-venom-may-inspire-medical-miracles-48107 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Versutoxin#Mechanism_behind_Neurotoxic_Properties https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0028390817301557 (subscription or purchase requred) The structure of versutoxin (δ-atracotoxin-Hv1) provides insights into the binding of site 3 neurotoxins to the voltage-gated sodium channel...

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