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It's possible to identify and distinguish viral infections from the bacterial ones, according to a recent study.

Researchers differentiated between influenza and other respiratory infections, says scienceworldreport.

Scientists located 396 human genes that showed changing expressions when they were hit by a viral infection. The "meta-virus signature pattern" is tangible after the infection, before the symptoms of illness are visible.

Another pattern of gene expression was located in 11 human genes, distinguishing viral infections unlike bacterial ones. Whatever be the symptoms, the test could also show whether the infection was with a virus or whether it was building immunity.

The test tried to identify particular gene expressions based on responses to a pathogen, helping scientists to assess how the body responded to pathogens in the body as well as vaccinations.

Scientists hope that in future, they would be able to determine if broad-spectrum antiviral drugs, like antibiotics can save people from bacterial infections or not.

The study is published in Immunity.