Frontiers in Immunology (May 2021)

Nasopharyngeal Type-I Interferon for Immediately Available Prophylaxis Against Emerging Respiratory Viral Infections

  • Amos C. Lee,
  • Yunjin Jeong,
  • Sumin Lee,
  • Haewook Jang,
  • Allen Zheng,
  • Sunghoon Kwon,
  • Sunghoon Kwon,
  • Sunghoon Kwon,
  • Sunghoon Kwon,
  • Sunghoon Kwon,
  • John E. Repine

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.660298
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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In addition to SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, emerging viruses that cause respiratory viral infections will continue to arise. Increasing evidence suggests a delayed, possibly suppressed, type 1 interferon (IFN-I) response occurs early during COVID-19 and other viral respiratory infections such as SARS and MERS. These observations prompt considering IFN-β as a prophylactic or early intervention for respiratory viral infections. A rationale for developing and testing intranasal interferon beta (IFN-β) as an immediately available intervention for new respiratory viral infections that will arise unexpectedly in the future is presented and supported by basic and clinical trial observations. IFN-β prophylaxis could limit the spread and consequences of an emerging respiratory viral infection in at-risk individuals while specific vaccines are being developed.

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