A final treatment for colds may be closer than we imagined

News Monitor Some people barely show symptoms and recover quickly, while others end up on the bed surrounded by towels, and those who have low immunity or breathing problems can be at risk. .

We are all excited to see a cure for colds, but it seems that his arrival does not happen.

– What is then the inhibitor? Will we do it soon?

The common cold is caused by many types that cause sore throat, headache, coughing and sneezing.

Suffering from symptoms may be more common in men, a so-called "male flu," a theme for another day.

The most common cause of colds is rhinovirus, which accounts for 50% of the infection (not called rhino, but of the Greek word meaning nose).

Children are usually between 8 and 12 times a year, while adults have two to three times.

Some other viruses can cause common colds such as adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus and influenza virus.

But for the most subtle scientists in this area, the first challenge for them is to eliminate the nasal virus (rhinovirus).

-Nasal Virus Note:

The nasal virus is not one: there are more than seventy-one different strains currently, and it is very difficult to manufacture a vaccine or an antiviral drug, there are approximately 90 to 95 antiretrovirals, which is a much lower proportion of antibiotics (antibiotics), and there are no antiviral drugs approved to eliminate the nasal virus.

Some of them have proven effective against some strains, but they are ineffective against other breeds, and the chances of a virus that can kill them directly are very small at the moment .

A number of groups around the world are working hard to find useful solutions, and these solutions contribute to writing a report that documents the latest developments on the subject.

Many groups try to treat proteins in host cells, because they are the most common place for virus replication, and this can be the effective way of stopping the spread of the virus to other cells in the body.

A very interesting hope has recently emerged from the Imperial University of London, a plant compound that targets enzymes in virus-infected cells, known as NMT1 and NMT2, and prevents them from developing. be used as a breeding ground for viruses.

Another Canadian team is working on a compound capable of inhibiting different types of human enzymes, called PI4KB This enzyme is needed to supplement the reproduction of the virus.

Several teams from the United States and the Perbright Institute in southern England are also working differently, trying to prevent infection by certain antibodies, called neutralizing antibodies, that act against different proteins of the virus.

But the number and variants of the nasal virus in the world mean that a total antibody must be developed.

Talk excited!

My research group is trying to solve the problem from another angle.

We are working on a family of molecules called host defense peptides or antimicrobial peptides, which are part of the first line of defense of the immune response to viruses, and in addition to their presence in humans. they are also present in many mammals, plants and insects.

We and others have demonstrated the ability of these peptides to kill a wide range of bacteria, fungi and viruses.

For example, one of our studies showed that a peptide in the human immune system called cathelicidin has a high efficiency in the destruction of influenza virus compared to anti-influenza drugs.

And very recently, we have verified that the same cathelysidin peptide (cathelicidin) in humans is able to kill the nasal virus, and we were happy to find out.

We also found that other animals' cathelicidines (such as pigs) were very effective at killing the human virus, and this also increased the hope that peptides derived from the immune systems of humans. other mammals can fight the infection.

However, this is only a first step in the long run, and we now hope to modify these peptides to make them quieter and more effective, not only against the nasal virus and the flu, but also against other types of colds.

Up to now, our work is still at the lab table, and against only a common strain of the nasal virus, the next step will be performed on animals, then on human clinical trials.

Each of the three approaches described in a near phase of development because it is very difficult to frame these things chronologically, but there may be the possible production of viable treatment in about five to ten years .

But until the day we get rid of colds, we will have to be very careful: we should draw a parallel line with antibiotics, as the increase in antibiotic resistance, the same with the viral treatments.

It would be unwise to distribute a cold remedy for both the patient and the patient, but he suggests keeping it for those who really need it, such as those who suffer from asthma and those who have low immunity.

The rest of us will probably have to keep resisting them in the slowest way, with boxes of towels, natural tusks and lots of hot drinks.

• Nagya Al-Ahmad