Objectives

  • Overview of viruses causing the respiratory infecitons in humans
  • reasons for the prevalence of respiratory viruses in human populationa nd emrgence of new respiratory diseaes
    • influenza viruses
    • Corona viruses
  • Relationship between the infection with RSV and development of asthma

Most symptoms of respiratory disease is inflammation

URT

  • runny nose, sneezing
  • congestion due to eexcess mucus production
  • dry or wet cough LRT
  • Chest cold, wheezing, pneumonia
  • ARDS

Human respiratory Viruses

  1. adenoviruses
  2. corona viruses
  3. orthomyxoviruses
  4. paramyxoviruses
  5. picornaviruses
  6. parvovirus

Why respiratory viruses so prevalent

Alternative winter seasons in northern and southern hemisphere allow respiratory viruses to stay in population

RNA genome is prone to mutations which is what most respiratory viruses have.

As they change so much vaccines and antivirals need to constantly developed

Adenoviruses

DNA genome in additioni to common cold can cause GI URI and eye infecitons in human beings. can cause ARDS in young military recruits immunisations exist

Coronaviruses

cause 15-30% of common colds, no vaccine availible

Novel Coronaviruses - SARS 2 causues COVID-19

main killer was the cytokine storm

Anti-COVID 19 drug

  • Paxlovid - Effectibe in reducing viral load
  • REGEN-COV - neutralise viral profeny
  • Remdesivir - nucleoside analogue
  • Hydroxycholoroquine - antimalarial - no evidence of efficacy
  • Dexamathasone - reduced inflammation
  • Baricitinib - reduces inflammation
  • Tocilizumab - reduced inflammation

Orthomyxoviruses

INfluenza

4 types a infects humans mammals and birds b and c infect humans d infects cattle and pigs a and b cause seansoal epidemics type a has cause 4 pandemics

INfluenza A

rnagenome, segmentes hemagluttin and neuraminidase are major antigens

redular zoonotic transmittion

they are further subtypes by HA and NA

antigenic shift, change the antigens surrounding the

avian influenza

Anti flu drugs

symmetrel - inhibites merging tmaiflu inhibits progeny xofluza 0 inhibits RNA polymaerase`

Paramyxoviruses

Common in infant and young children Examples:

  • Parainfluenza virus
  • Respiratory syncytial virus
  • Human metapneumovirus
  • Mumps virus
  • Measles virus A vaccine is available

RSV

Major couse of LRTIs in infants symptoms range from common cold, Bronchitis, pneumonia Bronchitis is distinctly associated with RSV and it increases risk of asthma and wheezing RSV can increase risk along 3 factors

  1. oversensetisation of the innate immune response to allergens
  2. abnormalities in lung de3velopment and function
  3. overexpression of nerve growth factors leading to airway hyperactivity Major cause of otitis media in infects

2 major antigenic types a and b 2 vaccine for adults 60/over no children vaccine passive immunation supporting vare

Picornaviruses

Rhinovirsues

aggrevate asthma main cause of common cold in humans

Coxsackie viruse

rna genome groups a and b no vaccine causes herpangina, pumps and sores in mouth and foot and mouth disease

Parvovirus

Genetic recombination

2 cells infecting same cell and switch componenets or DNA