First mouse with flu developed
Scientists hope the mouse with flu will help studies to develop new treatments
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Monday, 04, Feb 2008 11:41
Scientists have recreated the virus behind most colds in a small animal for the first time, raising the possibility of developing new treatments.
Until now the rhinovirus infection was thought to only be able to infect humans and chimpanzees, hampering research efforts.
The infection causes about three quarters of common colds but in some people they can have serious consequences such as triggering asthma attacks.
A team led by Professor Sebastian Johnson at Imperial College London report that they have managed to infect mice with rhinoviruses.
By modifying receptor cells in mice the researchers were able to infect them with the infection.
When the virus was mixed with an allergic reaction the mice responded similarly to humans.
As such the researchers are hopeful the infected mice will provide a good model for the study of severe asthma attacks.
"Until now it has not been possible to study rhinovirus infection in small animals," said Professor Johnson.
"This has been a major obstacle to developing new treatments and there is currently no effective treatment for rhinovirus infection.
"These mouse models should provide a major boost to research efforts to develop new treatments for the common cold, as well as for more potentially fatal illnesses such as acute attacks of asthma and of COPD."
Commenting on the study, Leanne Male, assistant director of research at Asthma UK commented: ‘"Ninety per cent of people with asthma tell us that colds and flu triggers their asthma symptoms but as yet there is no specific treatment for virally-induced asthma attacks and steroid treatments are only partially effective against them.
"We welcome this latest advancement as it will lead to a greater understanding of viral infections and their link with asthma and may help the development of a suitable treatment for virus-induced asthma attacks, thus greatly improving the lives of the 5.2 million people with the condition in the UK."