Buying Time—The Immune System Determinants of the Incubation Period to Respiratory Viruses
2010

Understanding the Immune System's Role in the Incubation Period of Respiratory Viruses

publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Hermesh Tamar, Moltedo Bruno, López Carolina B., Moran Thomas M.

Primary Institution: Mount Sinai School of Medicine

Hypothesis

The 'stealth phase' phenomenon is primarily responsible for the suppression of symptoms during the incubation period of respiratory viruses.

Conclusion

The study proposes that the delay in symptoms during the incubation period is due to viral antagonism that inhibits the innate immune response.

Supporting Evidence

  • The incubation period is the time between infection and the onset of symptoms.
  • Symptoms are often a result of the immune response rather than direct effects of the virus.
  • Viral proteins can inhibit the immune response, allowing the virus to replicate undetected.

Takeaway

When you get sick from a virus, it can take a few days before you start feeling bad because the virus is sneaky and hides from your body's defenses at first.

Methodology

The article reviews existing studies on the interaction between respiratory RNA viruses and the host immune system.

Limitations

The study primarily reviews literature and does not present new experimental data.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3390/v2112541

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