A drug – being studied as a preventative measure against fetal infection – would contain glycosaminoglycans, which the virus would find so irresistible that it would turn up its nose at the sugars in human cell membranes.
Students’ kit can detect Zika and dengue faster
A team from Singapore Polytechnic devised a kit to detect and distinguish between Zika and dengue infections. The test only takes 10 minutes, is non-invasive and contains a test-line mechanism similar to a pregnancy test kit.
Zika mosquito genome mapped – at last
Scientists have ‘assembled’ the genome of A. aegypti as well as that of Culex quinquefasciatus, a mosquito that transmits West Nile virus, by stitching together genome sequences using a new method called ‘Hi-C’.
Florida reports new case of locally acquired Zika infection
Florida health officials recently reported a new locally acquired Zika infection in Miami-Dade County and 4 new travel-related cases in South Florida, raising the total number of Zika cases for 2017 to 29 people.
Zika remains a threat, with 6 cases logged in Maryland this year
With 6 travel-related Zika cases already reported, Maryland officials are starting to gear up efforts for a new outbreak of the Zika virus. With researchers tying the mosquito-borne virus to potentially deadly heart problems, adult Zika patients must now see a cardiologist.
Researchers crack structure of key protein in Zika virus
Researchers’ structural analysis of ZIKA NS5, a unique protein to the virus, reveals a potential binding site in the protein for an inhibitor, making it an ideal target for for anti-viral drug development.
CDC warns sperm donated in South Florida at higher risk of Zika
The CDC guides men from South Florida, including Broward and Palm Beach counties, to refrain from donating sperm because they are at greater risk of spreading Zika.
Zika Cases Continue To Appear In Utah
So far, 29 travel-related cases of Zika have been registered in Utah, 11 of these cases have been pregnant women.
Zika virus also may have harmful heart effects, research shows in first report in adults
Palpitation followed by shortness of breath and fatigue were symptoms of heart problems in 8 of 9 patients in Venezuela within 2 weeks of having Zika-type symptoms.
Placenta more vulnerable to Zika in early pregnancy
Researchers found that during the first trimester of gestation the placenta produces genes encoding proteins which the Zika virus finds a favorable biological environment for infection.
