the researchers looked at the relationship between healthy cells and molecules known as “interferon-ß” or “interferon beta”. (Photo: McGill University)
Some viruses are said to be able to “hijack” a molecular process existing in cells in order to block the body’s immune response to a viral infection.
These are the findings of a study conducted by McGill University and Queen’s University in Belfast that could have big implications in the fight against viruses such as SARS-CoV-2.
In their paper published in the scientific journal Molecular Cell, the researchers looked at the relationship between healthy cells and molecules known as “interferon-ß” or “interferon beta”.
These molecules allow cells to communicate with each other in order to trigger an immune system response in the event of infection. The study emphasizes in particular that this communication is “essential for the proper functioning of the immune system”.
In other words, if the production of these molecules is taken out of service, it would amount to shutting down a building’s alarm system and thus giving free access to criminals.
If the results of further studies prove conclusive, medicine could more effectively treat various types of viral infections, including those caused by SARS-CoV2, and therefore save lives. (Photo: Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana / Reuters)
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Concluding their research, the scientists discovered a molecular process used by the virus that blocks the production of interferon-ß, thereby preventing the immune system from responding.
“Our study found that certain viruses ‘hijack’ this natural process in order to neutralize interferon-ß and block the immune system, resulting in an uncontrolled viral infection that can make people incredibly sick,” says Dr Seyed Mehdi Jafarnejad from Irish Queen’s University in Belfast.
For his part, Professor Nahum Sonenberg of Montreal University McGill is delighted to have been able to “continue his collaboration with Mehdi Jafarnejad”. Already in 1998, the two researchers had published preliminary work on this capacity specific to viruses.
“This work is likely to have major repercussions for understanding the mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 escapes the human immune response to the virus. ”
Professor Nahum Sonenberg
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Important as it is, this discovery still needs to be explored in order to determine whether it makes sense to focus our efforts on this process of molecular production in order to treat certain viral infections.
If the results prove successful, medicine could more effectively treat various types of viral infections, including those caused by SARS-CoV2, and therefore save lives.
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