Viral, Bacterial Infections Can Be Determined Through Gene Expression Pattern

It's now possible to distinguish between viral and bacterial infections, according to a recent study.

Researchers at Stanford University discovered how to distinguish between influenza and other respiratory infections. 

During the study, researchers identified 396 human genes that had changing expressions during the presence of a viral infection. As the pattern is different than what's typically seen in healthy patients or those with bacterial infections, the meta-virus signature pattern can be seen after infection, but before symptoms of illness are apparent.

Then, the researchers identified a second pattern of gene expression that identified looks for a change in 11 human genes, which can distinguish from viral infections as opposed to bacterial ones. And regardless of symptoms, the test can also tell whether a person is infected with a virus or building immunity.

The test works by looking for specific gene expressions based on responses to a pathogen that helps researchers measure how the body is reacting to pathogens in the body and vaccination.

With future studies, researchers hope to determine if broad-spectrum antiviral drugs, similar to antibiotics, could save people from deadly bacterial infections.

The study is published in the journal Immunity.

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