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Updated: Feb 24, 2026
Infection of Primary Nasal Epithelial Cells Grown at an Air-Liquid Interface to Characterize Human Coronavirus-Host Interactions
Published on: September 22, 2023
Molecular pattern of acquiring upper respiratory infection
1The View Hospital, in Affiliation with Cedar's Sinai, Doha, Qatar.
Cold weather weakens crucial antimicrobial defenses in the upper respiratory tract, increasing susceptibility to infections. This finding highlights biological factors, not just indoor proximity, contributing to winter illness seasonality.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Public Health
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Upper respiratory tract infections (URIs) are a major public health issue, with seasonality linked to temperature and humidity.
- Traditional views attribute winter URI increases to indoor crowding, but biological factors are also implicated.
- Antimicrobial extracellular vesicles (EVs) are part of mucosal defense, but their function in cold is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of cold environments on the efficacy of antimicrobial extracellular vesicles (EVs) in mucosal defense against respiratory pathogens.
Main Methods:
- Studies examined the functional capacity of EVs under varying temperature conditions.
- Assessed the antimicrobial activity of EVs exposed to cold versus neutral temperatures.
Main Results:
- Exposure to cold environments significantly impairs the antimicrobial activity of extracellular vesicles (EVs).
- Weakened EVs reduce the effectiveness of mucosal defenses, increasing susceptibility to infections in colder weather.
Conclusions:
- Cold-induced dysfunction of antimicrobial EVs is a key biological mechanism contributing to the seasonality of upper respiratory tract infections.
- Interventions targeting EV function could mitigate increased URI risk during winter months.
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