Pirbright collaboration shows immune system can worsen respiratory disease
Scientists from The Pirbright Institute, in collaboration with others, have found immune cells designed to help clear infections could actually be aggravating respiratory disease caused by bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV). The virus infects the lungs of cattle and is closely related to human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV), which mostly affects infants but can also cause longer term complications such as asthma.