A brother and sister with an extremely rare genetic condition have a stunning ability to fight off viruses — an ability that could lead to a new family of antiviral drugs.
Their bodies stop viruses from building a protective shell, which leaves viruses “naked” and vulnerable, researchers report in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The siblings, an 11-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl, are severely disabled, suffering seizures, developmental delays, fragile bones and hearing loss, among other conditions.
But the same mutation that’s caused their health troubles also manages to cripple viruses, preventing them from setting up an infection. The children are practically immune to many viral infections.
Read the full, original story: Kids With Rare Disease May Hold Secret to Stopping Viruses
