While viral diseases increase worldwide, scientists are uncovering breakthroughs that could shift the tide. A rare genetic mutation recreated in labs shows potential to make humans nearly immune to viruses, offering hope amid growing global health challenges. This discovery marks a critical step in reimagining future antiviral defenses. What if immunity to nearly all viruses wasn’t science fiction but a possibility hiding inside the cells of a few rare people? That’s the exciting promise scientists are now exploring after recreating a genetic mutation that seems to grant natural resistance to viral infections. In recent experiments, researchers used mRNA technology to mimic this mutation in animals, creating short-term but powerful antiviral protection. The findings, published in Science Translational Medicine, could change the way we prepare for pandemics and treat viral outbreaks.

The story begins with a rare immune disorder called ISG15 deficiency, first identified about 15 years ago by Columbia University immunologist Dusan Bogunovic. At first, the mutation seemed like bad news—it increased vulnerability to certain bacterial infections. But as more patients were studied, something unusual came into focus: these individuals rarely got seriously sick from viral diseases.

Flu, measles, mumps, chickenpox—patients carried evidence in their blood of past viral encounters, yet none recalled being laid up in bed or experiencing the kind of severe illness that typically accompanies these infections.

The secret was a constant, low-level immune activation. Normally, the body’s antiviral proteins are switched on only during an infection. But in ISG15-deficient people, the “on switch” never flips off. Their immune systems exist in a perpetual state of mild inflammation—enough to keep viruses from ever gaining a foothold.

From Rare Condition to Universal Antiviral Blueprint

For years, Bogunovic wondered if this quirk could be harnessed for broader use. “In the back of my mind, I kept thinking that if we could produce this type of light immune activation in other people, we could protect them from just about any virus,” he explained.

That theory now has proof of concept. Using technology similar to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, Bogunovic’s team designed a therapy that temporarily reproduces the ISG15 effect in healthy animals. Instead of shutting down ISG15 completely—which produces dozens of proteins, not all beneficial—the researchers pinpointed 10 specific proteins responsible for antiviral resistance.

The therapy delivers mRNA instructions, wrapped in lipid nanoparticles, that prompt cells to make those proteins. The result: a body on viral high alert, but only for a few days.

Testing the Antiviral Shield in Animals

In experiments, mice and hamsters received the therapy via a nasal drip. When exposed to influenza and SARS-CoV-2, the animals’ bodies rapidly produced the antiviral proteins, which blocked the viruses at multiple stages of their life cycles.

The results were striking. Viral replication was restricted, disease severity dropped, and—crucially—the rest of the immune system functioned normally. Unlike people naturally born with ISG15 deficiency, the treated animals didn’t show harmful levels of inflammation.

Even more impressive: in lab cultures, no virus tested so far—including flu and coronaviruses—has managed to bypass the defense. “We have yet to find a virus that can break through the therapy’s defenses,” Bogunovic said.

Could This Work Like Powerful Protection For Viral Diseases?

The antiviral protection lasted three to four days—a short window, but potentially a lifesaving one in the right circumstances. Unlike vaccines, which take weeks to build immunity and must be tailored to specific pathogens, this therapy acts quickly and broadly.

That makes it especially promising for pandemic preparedness. Imagine health workers receiving a dose before entering a hospital during an outbreak, or family members protecting themselves while caring for a sick loved one. “We believe the technology will work even if we don’t know the identity of the virus,” Bogunovic said.

In effect, it could serve as a kind of biological personal protective equipment (PPE)—a temporary antiviral shield until traditional vaccines or treatments are developed.

For all its promise, the therapy faces steep challenges. Delivering mRNA precisely to where it’s needed in humans remains one of the toughest problems in biotechnology. In animals, the nasal route worked, but optimizing delivery for people is far from solved.

“Once the therapy reaches our cells, it works,” Bogunovic noted. “But the delivery of any nucleic acid, DNA or RNA, into the part of the body you want to protect is currently the biggest challenge in the field.”

There’s also the question of durability. Protection that lasts only a few days may limit practical use unless it can be safely repeated. Long-term effects on the immune system must also be carefully studied.

And then there’s public trust. The therapy relies on mRNA technology—the same platform behind COVID-19 vaccines—which has faced political and social backlash despite its scientific success. Convincing people to embrace another mRNA-based innovation could be difficult.

Despite these obstacles, the implications are profound. If scientists can refine and safely scale this approach, it could give humanity an entirely new tool against viral threats one not limited to known pathogens or dependent on predicting the next pandemic strain.

Bogunovic envisions a world where doctors could deploy the therapy in nursing homes during flu season, where first responders could be inoculated at the front lines of outbreaks, and where households could shield vulnerable family members when new viruses emerge.

“Our findings reinforce the power of research driven by curiosity without preconceived notions,” Bogunovic said. “We were not looking for an antiviral when we began studying our rare patients, but the studies have inspired the potential development of a universal antiviral for everyone.”

Only a few dozen people on Earth naturally carry the ISG15 mutation, but their biology may unlock a universal antiviral strategy for the rest of us. For now, the work is confined to labs and animal trials But the concept that a rare genetic glitch could be recreated to protect against virtually any virus is a remarkable reminder of how much nature still has to teach us.

The Supreme Court of India, in a landmark decision, authorized the removal of life support for Harish Rana, a 31-year-old man in a vegetative state since 2013.

This marks the country's first Court-approved case of passive euthanasia without a prior living will. The Court ruled that the "right to die with dignity" is a fundamental part of the right to life under Article 21.

Also read: Supreme Court Allows 1st Passive Euthanasia For Man In Vegetative State For 13 Years

Speaking to HealthandMe, the experts said that the landmark ruling will enable families and doctors to make compassionate decisions and may also influence end-of-life protocols.

There are several medical conditions where patients undergo prolonged suffering despite treatment, with no realistic scope for recovery, sometimes for decades.

“This judgment could have a significant impact on end-of-life care practices in Indian ICUs. Many patients remain in prolonged vegetative states with no meaningful quality of life, often sustained only through artificial life support,” Dr. Sandeep Dewan, Senior Director, Critical Care & Chairman ECMO Program, Fortis Gurugram, told this publication.

“The ruling reinforces that while preserving life is important, the quality and dignity of life must also be considered, and it provides clearer pathways for families and doctors to make compassionate decisions in such situations,” he added.

Harish was a BTech student in Chandigarh who suffered severe traumatic brain injury after falling from the fourth floor of his paying guest accommodation in August 2013.

Since then, he has remained bedridden and was being treated with Clinically Administered Nutrition (CAN), where surgically installed PEG tubes helped him with breathing and nutrition.

The apex Court, in its ruling, noted that it can just prolong his biological existence, but it will not lead to any therapeutic improvement.

With the Harish Rana judgment, the apex Court today clarified how passive euthanasia should be applied in cases where a patient’s life is being supported by feeding tubes.

The top Court also waived off the reconsideration period of 30 days and noted that the medical treatment, including the CAN administered to the patient, can be withdrawn or withheld.

"Doctors and hospitals have often been reluctant to stop tube feeding in such patients, fearing that it could be interpreted as 'starving the patient to death',” Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, Ex-President of IMA Cochin and Convener of the Research Cell, Kerala, told HealthandMe.

“Today’s ruling clarifies that artificial nutrition and hydration are indeed forms of medical treatment. Therefore, withholding such artificial feeding can be considered withdrawal of life-sustaining medical support in situations where treatment offers no prospect of recovery and only prolongs suffering,” he added.

Passive Euthanasia In India

Passive Euthanasia allows a terminally ill or irreversibly comatose patient to die naturally. It involves deliberately withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatments (like ventilators, feeding tubes, or medication). It has been legal since 2018, but under strict guidelines.

On the other hand, active euthanasia or assisted suicide for terminally ill patients is legal in several countries, but is not permitted in India.

The Aruna Shanbaug Case (2011) paved the way for passive euthanasia in India.

Shanbaug was a nurse at Mumbai's KEM hospital who remained in a vegetative state for 42 years after an assault in 1973. The hospital staff cared for her and did not stop treatment till she passed away naturally in 2015.

However, in the 2011 Aruna Shanbaug judgment, the SC allowed passive euthanasia by permitting the withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining treatment under strict legal safeguards.

This framework was further clarified in the 2018 Common Cause judgment, which recognized advance directives or living wills.

Later in 2023, the SC modified the guidelines, noting that withdrawal of life support is permissible only after the approval of the Primary and Secondary Medical Boards.

A Living Will

Dr. Jayadevan noted that, as death is a certainty for all who are living, greater awareness must be created on adults preparing a "Living Will or Advanced Directive".

A Living Will is essentially made when individuals are "still in good health— documenting one’s preference for specific treatment measures in the event of a terminal illness occurring in the future”.

“This will help relatives and doctors to take the right decisions and avoid unnecessary treatment measures in such situations. Unlike the conventional Will that is executed after death, a Living Will is implemented when a person is still alive,” the doctor said.

In a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court today allowed passive euthanasia for a 32-year-old man, living in a vegetative state for the last 13 years.

A bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice KV Viswanathan allowed the withdrawal of life support for Harish Rana, a resident of Ghaziabad, who has been in a coma and kept alive on tubes for breathing and nutrition after sustaining severe head injuries following a fall from a building in 2013 in Chandigarh.

It is the first known case of a court-ordered passive euthanasia in India, since it was legalised in 2018 and modified in 2023, recognizing the fundamental right to die with dignity.

"Harish Rana, presently aged 32 years, was once a young, bright boy. He met with a tragic life-altering accident after a fall from the fourth floor of his paying guest accommodation. His brain injury left him in a condition of Persistent Vegetative State (PSV) with 100 percent quadraplegia... Medical reports show that his medical condition has not improved in the past 13 years," LiveLaw quoted the bench as saying.

The Court noted that the continuation of his treatment -- Clinically Administered Nutrition (CAN) via surgically installed PEG tubes -- can just prolong his biological existence but will not lead to any therapeutic improvement.

What Is The Case Of Harish Rana?

Harish was a BTech student in Chandigarh who suffered severe traumatic brain injury after falling from the fourth floor of his paying guest accommodation in August 2013.

Since then, he has remained bedridden and dependent on others for all activities of daily life.

Harish's father, the petitioner, first approached the Delhi High Court in 2024, seeking permission for passive euthanasia, but was rejected as the patient was not terminally ill.

The same year, the petitioner knocked on the doors of the Supreme Court, which, though it refused to entertain the plea, directed the Uttar Pradesh government to bear the treatment expenses.

In 2025, the petitioner filed a miscellaneous application in the Supreme Court, noting that Harish's condition had no scope for improvement.

The Court then directed the constitution of a Primary Medical Board led by the District Hospital in Noida to examine his health, as well as a Secondary Medical Board constituted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

After perusing the report, Justice Pardiwala remarked that it's a "sad report" and the man can't continue to live like this. Before passing the final order, the Court met the parents, LiveLaw reported.

The Court has asked AIIMS to provide palliative care, so that the withdrawal of CAN can be given effect to.

To maintain the dignity of death, the apex Court said that the life support must be withdrawn with a tailored plan.

1st Passive Euthanasia: What's New From The 2018 Judgment

In 2018, a five-judge Constitution Bench had recognized and given sanction for passive euthanasia, and living will/advance directives.

Later in 2023, the SC modified the guidelines, noting that withdrawal of life support is permissible only after the approval of the Primary and Secondary Medical Boards.

With the Harish Rana judgment, the apex Court today clarified how passive euthanasia should be applied in cases where a patient’s life is being supported by feeding tubes.

The top Court waived off the reconsideration period of 30 days and noted that the medical treatment, including the CAN administered to the patient, can be withdrawn or withheld.

What is Passive Euthanasia

Passive Euthanasia allows a terminally ill or irreversibly comatose patient to die naturally. It involves deliberately withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatments (like ventilators, feeding tubes, or medication). It has been legal since 2018, but under strict guidelines.

In Active Euthanasia, patients are administered a lethal injection to cause death. It is illegal in India and considered an offence.

The Aruna Shanbaug case in 2011 opened the door for passive euthanasia in India for the first time.

The top Court rejected euthanasia in the case of Shanbaug, a nurse at Mumbai's KEM hospital who was in a vegetative state for 42 years after an assault in 1973, as the hospital staff who cared for her for decades did not support stopping treatment.

Shanbaug continued to be under care and passed away naturally in 2015

However, in her case, the court made the judgment allowing for passive euthanasia in certain rare situations under strict conditions.

In the wake of a shocking incident in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur, where two engineers allegedly died within 48 hours of undergoing hair transplant surgery by a dentist, the Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL) and the Association of Plastic Surgeons of India (APSI) have pressed the need for stricter rules for aesthetic and hair restoration procedures.

The doctors raised concerns about patient safety and called for ramping up training standards, even as many such cases where unqualified medical practitioners performed aesthetic procedures leading to severe infections, loss of sight, and many complications have been documented from across the country.

Traditionally, these procedures were performed by specialists such as dermatologists and plastic surgeons trained under the regulatory framework of the National Medical Commission (NMC).

However, experts said the issue has become more complicated after the Dental Council of India (DCI) allowed MDS dental surgeons, under provisions of the Dentists Act, 1948, to perform certain aesthetic procedures and hair transplantation.

“Aesthetic procedures and dermatology demand additional training. In addition to the MBBS degree, a dermatologist training program requires three years of residency at a postgraduate level in dermatology at certain accredited medical schools,” Dr Vinay Singh, President IADVL said.

He added that the training also includes a condensed curriculum of various skin ailments, hair problems, and advanced procedures in dermatology.

“Allowing professionals without comprehensive medical training in skin diseases, hair disorders, and surgical complication management to perform such procedures could dilute training standards and increase risks for patients,” warned Dr. Rajat Gupta, Senior Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Delhi.

The experts also pointed out that hair transplant is a modern medical procedure and should only be conducted by Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs) who are specialized in that area.

Also read: Fact Check: Popular Hair Loss Treatment Ingredient Could Trigger Chest Pain

Dr. Aditya Aggarwal, Senior Consultant Plastic Surgery, Medicity Medanta Hospital, shared that the surgery requires knowledge regarding the biology of the skin, the disorders of the hair, how to manage infections, and how to manage complications.

The associations urged the government to issue comprehensive guidelines and ensure strict implementation of existing regulations to curb quackery and safeguard public health.

Further, they advised the patients to verify the doctor’s qualifications and registration with the state medical council before undergoing any skin, hair, or cosmetic treatment.

The public must remain alert and avoid falling prey to misleading advertisements or treatments offered by unlicensed practitioners, the experts said.