It started subtly, hidden within the immune systems of just a handful of people around the world. They weren’t heroes in capes, but they carried something remarkable—an unseen armor that blocked every virus nature sent their way. No flu, no measles, no chickenpox, not even a cold.
Though they were vulnerable to some bacterial infections, viruses never managed to take hold.
Discovery of an Antiviral Clue Hidden in a Genetic Mutation
This unusual biological quirk first drew the attention of Dr. Dusan Bogunovic, an immunologist at Columbia University. Around 15 years ago, while studying a genetic mutation that left patients more susceptible to bacterial infections, he uncovered something surprising. The mutation disrupted production of a molecule known as ISG15, an immune regulator. That finding was notable in itself—but what truly caught Bogunovic’s interest was the nature of the inflammation present in these patients.
“The inflammation they showed was antiviral, and that’s when it struck me—these individuals might be concealing something,” Bogunovic recalls.
Looking closer, Bogunovic and his team discovered immune cells that had clearly fought off viruses such as flu, measles, mumps, and chickenpox—yet none of the patients had ever displayed symptoms.
“I kept thinking,” Bogunovic says, “if we could trigger this kind of mild immune activation in others, we might be able to shield them from nearly any virus.”
Turning Genetic Insight into an Experimental Antiviral Therapy
That possibility is now moving toward reality. In a newly published study, his team introduced an experimental therapy that temporarily grants animals the same antiviral advantage seen in people with ISG15 deficiency.
The treatment itself was straightforward: a nasal drip delivered into the lungs of mice and hamsters. Yet within that simple liquid lay a complex package—10 strands of messenger RNA, each wrapped in lipid nanoparticles. This design halted the replication of both influenza and SARS-CoV-2, while also easing the severity of illness.
Instead of directly disabling ISG15—a risky approach—the therapy selectively boosted the production of 10 critical proteins out of the 60 normally triggered by ISG15 deficiency. These proteins form the core of broad antiviral defense.
The delivery method takes a cue from COVID mRNA vaccines: once inside the cells, the mRNAs instruct the body to manufacture the protective proteins.
“We produce just a small dose of these 10 proteins, and only for a brief period,” Bogunovic explains. “That causes far less inflammation than what occurs in people lacking ISG15—but it’s still enough to block viral illness.”
A Rapid-Response Shield Against Future Pandemics
The researchers see their approach as a fast-acting shield for future pandemics, capable of protecting healthcare workers, high-risk groups, and exposed family members—even before the exact virus is known.
Importantly, the therapy doesn’t disrupt the body’s capacity to develop lasting immunity. Still, hurdles remain, particularly in perfecting the delivery system.
“When we delivered the nanoparticles to animals, the 10 proteins were produced in the lungs—but likely not at levels high enough to move straight into human use,” Bogunovic notes. “The therapy works once it reaches the cells, but getting DNA or RNA to the exact part of the body you want to protect remains one of the biggest challenges in the field.”
The researchers are also investigating how long the antiviral shield persists. Early findings suggest the protection lasts around three to four days.
Read the original article on: New Atlas
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