Surprisingly simple common cold vaccine may defend against many strains

[AussieNeil]

'As common as the common cold is, scientists have so far been unable to develop a viable vaccine against it, largely due to the fact that there are over 100 strains of rhinoviruses, the most common cause of the infection. Now, a team at Emory University has used a surprisingly simple technique, mixing multiple types of rhinovirus into one vaccine, and found it stimulated the immune system against all of the included types.'

Overview: newatlas.com/common-cold-va...

Professional article: nature.com/ncomms/2016/1609...

While I really hope that this research does end up saving us from the misery of enduring colds (with the associated risk of dangerous complications), it does remind me of 'Report on a Vaccine for the Treatment and Cure of the Common Cold', some Cold Humor, by MD Alan E. Nourse, a favourite short story from my youth, which is available as text from: gutenberg.org/ebooks/24276

or if you prefer it narrated: youtube.com/watch?v=vfo-_J6...(Not working as expected?)

This was probably my first professional introduction (almost 50 years ago) of why we have clinical trials - and why thorough long term tracking of the trial participants is so important...

Neil

[cllady01 Former Volunteer]

Thanks for the humorous read, Neil. While the story is fictitious, there is the reality of the intricacy and intermingling of life forms--how we can be felled by that which we cannot even fathom exists--and a curiosity of research gone too far possible at any turn.