Nation IN BRIEF : NATIONWIDE : Antibody Is Used to Fight Pneumonia

Researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Scripps Research Institute said they have successfully used human antibody fragments in mice to fight a common pneumonia virus. The study was published in the latest Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Pieces of human antibody were used to treat mice for respiratory syncytial virus, the major worldwide cause of pneumonia in infants and children. Single doses applied by nasal spray over three days completely cured the infection, the researchers said. It may be eventually possible to develop antibody treatments for other viral infections, including influenza and the common cold, researchers said.