New findings published in the journal Nature regard new strategies for fighting chronic viral infections that could apply to the treatment of important diseases such as meningitis, hepatitis C and B, and also HIV. Researchers at Yerkes National Primate Research and Emory Vaccine Centers took some tests on mice and discovered that preventing white blood cells' circulation and trapping them in the lymph nodes can help mice get rid of viral infections. The drug they discovered is called FTY720 or fingolomod and succeeds in doing that. It helped the animals fight off a virus that causes a mouse form of meningitis.

It appears that the body’s immune system fights against viral infections in the lymph nodes more than in any other place.

US scientists, led by Dr John Altman from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, said for Science: "Because FTY720 targets host pathways that are completely evolutionarily conserved, our results may be translatable into new immunotherapies for the treatment of chronic infections."

Immunosuppressants which are usually used in treating autoimmune disorders or in cases of transplant rejection, are not good candidates for treating infections because they actually cause susceptibility to infection. Scientists had previously thought of FTY720 as something that suppresses the immune system, Altman says.

FTY720's effects will be tested with other viruses in the future. The drug is currently in late-stage trials. Initially it was not approved for sale by the FDA but it was still tested by doctors for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and preventing kidney transplant rejection.