Transcriptomics of rhinovirus persistence reveals sustained expression of RIG-I and interferon-stimulated genes in nasal epithelial cells in vitro.

The persistence of HRV RNA does not necessarily indicate an active infection during prolonged infection. The sustained expression of RIG-I and ISGs in response to viral RNA persistence highlights the importance of assessing how immune-activating host factors can change during active HRV infection and the immune regulation that persists thereafter.