New study reveals insight into innate immunity differences at birth

Researchers in the US have discovered a potential new way of assessing and dealing with innate differences in immunity among infants.

The Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis study has taken umbilical cord blood samples to measure a specific immune system response to viral infection, known as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma).

It was found that babies whose monocytes produced higher levels of IFN-gamma generally experienced fewer colds, ear infections, sinus infections, pneumonia and hospitalisations due to respiratory illness during their first year of life.

The study suggests that stimulating the body's IFN-gamma signalling system could offer broad protection against viruses, exceeding the level offered by vaccines.

Dr Kaharu Sumino, assistant professor of medicine, said: "If we can develop a relatively easy way to find out if someone has a deficiency in this system, we would like to be able to give a drug that can boost the innate immune response."

According to NHS estimates, children in the UK suffer around three to eight colds a year on average.