A new study by the Georgia State University has revealed alarming findings about the impact of sequential viral infections on lung health.
The research, which used ferrets as a model, discovered that an infection with a measles-like virus following recovery from influenza or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can lead to fatal lung complications.
This study, published in Nature Communications, sheds new light on the dangers of multiple viral infections and the body’s ability to fight off disease.
The team focused on ferrets that had initially been infected with common respiratory viruses, such as RSV or influenza, which cause flu-like symptoms.
After the animals fully recovered from their initial illness, they were then exposed to a non-lethal strain of the canine distemper virus (CDV), similar to the human measles virus, which typically results in a measles-like illness in ferrets.
Surprisingly, two weeks after the CDV infection, the ferrets developed lethal hemorrhaging pneumonia—a condition not seen when these viruses were encountered separately.
Richard Plemper, the study’s senior author, expressed that the acute lung failure observed in these ferrets was unprecedented and highlighted a critical vulnerability.
The ferrets did not die from the viral infection itself but from bacterial pneumonia, as their bodies were unable to ward off bacteria that are normally harmless.
The study identified that the infection sequence led to a failure in upregulating protective lung proteins known as trefoil factors following the initial flu-like illness. This left the animals susceptible to severe bacterial infections post-CDV exposure.
Normally, these trefoil factors help protect against bacterial invasion, but their absence marked a significant increase in vulnerability.
Remarkably, the research team found a silver lining in their experimental antiviral drug, GHP-88309.
This drug, developed by Plemper, was capable of preventing the fatal bacterial pneumonia in ferrets, even when administered late after the onset of the CDV infection. This finding suggests a potential treatment strategy for similar conditions in humans.
The implications of this research are far-reaching. With measles cases on the rise globally, the study’s findings raise concerns about the potential for more severe disease following unrelated viral infections.
Measles, often accompanied by bacterial infections like otitis media (ear infection) or pneumonia, could pose a greater risk if the patient has a history of other viral illnesses.
This study not only highlights the critical role of previous infections in determining disease severity but also identifies a possible treatment window to prevent long-term immune suppression caused by measles-like diseases.
The success of GHP-88309 as a treatment introduces a novel approach to mitigating the severe complications associated with these diseases, offering hope for future therapeutic strategies.
The Georgia State University team’s work emphasizes the importance of understanding the complex interactions between different viral infections and the human immune system.
It underscores the need for continued research in this area, especially as the global landscape of infectious diseases continues to evolve.
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The research findings can be found in Nature Communications.
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