Keratoconjunctivitis Blog

How Virus Puts the 'Pink' in Pink Eye

Posted 16 Apr 2010 by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, April 15 – Scientists have figured out how the eye reacts to the virus that causes pink eye – a finding from an animal study that could lead to a better treatment for the condition. Pink eye (viral keratoconjunctivitis) is highly contagious, and some people with the condition must remain in isolation for up to two weeks. Inflammation causes red, irritated eyes, blurry vision and uncomfortable discharge. Worse, there is no known effective treatment for it. Scientists used a new model to identify what part of the pink eye virus (adenovirus keratitus) caused the inflammation familiar to people suffering from the condition. In tests on mice with pink eye, the scientists found that the protein coat of the virus (viral capsid) induces inflammation. They also determined that inflammation could be blocked by a peptide containing components of the same protein coat. "We were ... Read more

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