Discovery of new ‘killer virus’ that can ‘evade our immune system’

Shock research has revealed how two common but deadly viruses have the power to join forces and create a new hybrid bug.

A new killer “hybrid virus” capable of evading the immune system has been discovered by researchers and it could explain cases of viral pneumonia that are difficult to treat.

Researchers from the University of Glasgow found that co-infections do not always result in two viruses competing, rather they can join together to form a “hybrid virus”, The Sun reports.

The discovery was made when human lung cells were infected with both the flu and RSV, with researchers observing the viruses combined in a way not seen before.

This hybrid infection can then go on to invade the same cells, working together to kill them.

It is not rare for patients to be co-infected by various viruses, with The Sun reporting simultaneous infections occur within 10 to 30 per cent of all respiratory viral cases.

The discovery of a new killer virus could explain hard-to-treat pneumonia cases. Picture: iStock

Research supervisor, Professor Pablo Murcia said the discovery had revealed a completely new type of virus and threat.

“This kind of hybrid virus has never been described before,” Professor Pablo Murcia told The Guardian.

“We are talking about viruses from two completely different families combining together with the genomes and the external proteins of both viruses.

“It is a new type of virus pathogen,” he said.

The research highlighted the serious health risks the new virus poses, as the hybrid bug can evade the immune system.

This occurs as the flu virus is masked by the RSV virus, allowing the hybrid bug to bypass any flu immunity.

Researchers believe the discovery may be the reason some cases of pneumonia are more difficult to treat than others.

Virologist at the University of Leeds, Dr Stephen Griffin told The Guardian the hybrid virus could increase the chances of patients developing severe cases of viral pneumonia.

“RSV tends to go lower down into the lung than the seasonal flu virus, and you’re more likely to get more severe disease the further down the infection goes,” he said.

“It is another reason to avoid getting infected with multiple viruses, because this [hybridisation] is likely to happen all the more if we don’t take precautions to protect our health.”

Originally published as Discovery of new ‘killer virus’ that can ‘evade our immune system’