Scientists Decode the Common Cold

Scientists have unlocked the genetic code of the common cold. But this work is not likely to lead to a cure, the Associated Press (AP) reported February 13. Rhinovirus, which causes most colds, is common but not simple. It has 99 known strains. Scientists reported online in the journal Science that they had sequenced all of them. This means looking at the parts of genes, called nucleotides, and finding out in what order they appear. The strains vary a lot on the outside, where the immune system would attack. So a vaccine wouldn’t work against many strains, a researcher told AP. But the inside parts of the virus strains are similar. These parts could be targets for a drug to treat the cold.