I assume that most people feel that everything that is needed to understand the common cold has already been discovered.

The following is a quote from a new Yale University study that was published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
" However, the focus of prior studies has been on how body temperature influenced the virus as opposed to the immune system, "

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They found the following concerning the temperature dependence of the immune system:

" In cells lining the mice's nasal passages, genes that produce the virus-fighting protein interferon were less active at 33C than at 37C, Yale immunologist Akiko Iwasaki and her colleagues reported.
In addition, molecules that detect viruses inside cells and then order the cell to produce interferon were less sensitive at colder temperatures. That lower sensitivity reduced production not only of interferon but also of proteins that chop up virus genes, block the release of virus and kill virus-infected cells."
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H.Kuska comment: Please note " proteins that chop up virus genes". These proteins are the ones that are thought to give a temperature dependence to the immune systems of plants.

If you have children/grandchildren that have not selected a career yet, please point out that there is still a lot to be learned about Nature that will benefit mankind.

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/01/06/cold-weather-can-actually-cause-colds-study-finds/

Here is a link that might be useful: link for above

This post was edited by henry_kuska on Tue, Jan 6, 15 at 16:18