Researchers at Imperial College London have created mouse models that are capable of being infected with rhinovirus, the virus, which causes most human colds and can trigger asthma attacks. Following infection the genetically modified mice exhibit responses similar to those observed in rhinovirus infection in humans.

The previous lack of small animal models for rhinovirus infection has been an obstacle in the development of potential therapies and as a result, there are no effective treatments at present. However the Imperial mice should be valuable in investigating the pathogenesis and treatment of the common cold, as well as acute attacks of asthma and, with further development, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) and other diseases in which rhinovirus infection is implicated.