The genetics of severe illness in children with the common cold

EPFL scientists have discovered gene variants that make children life-threatening susceptible to common-cold viruses. Although most children can handle viral respiratory infections like the common cold, about 2% of children become sick enough to require hospitalization. There are some known risk factors for this, but severe illness still affects 1 in 1000 previously healthy kids. EPFL scientists have now discovered an underlying cause: gene variants that stop or reduce the production of interferon beta, a protein that activates the child's innate immune response to respiratory viruses. The work is published in PNAS . Severe respiratory illness due to viral infection is rare but can be life threatening to children, especially in places without access to modern medical care. This is a global problem since virtually everyone will contract common-cold viruses such as human rhinoviruses (HRV) and human respiratory syncytial viruses (HRSV) before the age of one. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that we don't actually have a biological explanation for this extreme susceptibility.