Until now it was thought that antibodies only blocked viruses on the outside of the cell, and that when the virus managed to enter the battle was lost. But a study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) reveals that antibodies that fight viruses and bacteria can enter cells and, once there, elicit a response directed by a protein called TRIM21 . It pushes the virus into a system that cells use to get rid of unwanted material. The process that occurs quickly, before most viruses have a chance to cause serious cell damage.
According to the team of researchers led by Leo James of the Medical Research Council (MRC), this discovery transforms scientific understanding of human immunity to viral diseases such as the common cold, gastroenteritis and the so-called "stomach flu." In addition, increasing the amount of TRIM21 protein within cells can increase the effectiveness of the process, which provides clues for the development of new antiviral drugs .
