The main target populations for the tetravalent live attenuated dengue virus vaccine are indigenous populations, especially infants less than 2 years old, residing in areas of the world endemic for dengue and at risk of developing dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). The presence of maternal dengue antibody during the first year of life makes it unlikely that a vaccine given during that time will have long-term efficacy, as the vaccine virus would likely be neutralized prior to necessary replication. Children older than 18 months may have preexisting flavivirus antibody. Therefore, vaccination of infants living in Thailand early in the second year of life (between the ages of 12 and 18 months) seems most beneficial. The aim of this trial is to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of a two-dose schedule of a tetravalent live attenuated dengue vaccine in flavivirus antibody naïve infants beginning at 12-15 months of age.. ...

In Europe, many flaviviruses are endemic (West Nile, Usutu, tick-borne encephalitis viruses) or occasionally imported (dengue, yellow fever viruses). Due to the temporal and geographical co-circulation of flaviviruses in Europe, flavivirus differentiation by diagnostic tests is crucial in the adaptation of surveillance and control efforts. Serological diagnosis of flavivirus infections is complicated by the antigenic similarities among the Flavivirus genus. Indeed, most flavivirus antibodies are directed against the highly immunogenic envelope protein, which contains both flavivirus cross-reactive and virus-specific epitopes. Serological assay results should thus be interpreted with care and confirmed by comparative neutralization tests using a panel of viruses known to circulate in Europe. However, antibody cross-reactivity could be advantageous in efforts to control emerging flaviviruses because it ensures partial cross-protection. In contrast, it might also facilitate subsequent diseases, through a

The Flavivirus genus (Flaviviridae family) comprises the most important arboviruses in the world such as dengue virus, West Nile virus (WNV), Zika virus (ZIKV), Japanese encephalitis virus and yellow fever virus (YFV). Every year, several outbreaks caused by flaviviruses are reported worldwide (i.e.: ZIKV and YFV outbreaks in South America) with a huge impact on economy and public health. In the last few decades, many aspects of the flavivirus biology and the interaction of flaviviruses with host cells have been elucidated. However, many underlying mechanisms concerning receptor usage, entry process and viral interaction with host cell factors are still not completely understood. Integrins, the major class of cell adhesion molecules have been implicated in the infectious cycle of different viruses including flaviviruses. A previous report proposed that a particular integrin, the αVβ3 integrin, might act as a cellular receptor for WNV. However, this hypothesis was not confirmed by other groups. In the

TY - CHAP. T1 - Japanese Encephalitis and West Nile and Other Flavivirus Infections. AU - Watts, Douglas M.. AU - Granwehr, Bruno P.. AU - Shope, Robert E.. AU - Solomon, Tom. AU - Tesh, Robert B.. PY - 2006. Y1 - 2006. UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=36448954021&partnerID=8YFLogxK. UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=36448954021&partnerID=8YFLogxK. U2 - 10.1016/B978-0-443-06668-9.50078-8. DO - 10.1016/B978-0-443-06668-9.50078-8. M3 - Chapter. AN - SCOPUS:36448954021. SN - 9780443066689. VL - 1. SP - 823. EP - 830. BT - Tropical Infectious Diseases. PB - Elsevier Inc.. ER - ...

Zika Virus Reagents Research Reagents Biofront Technologies. The BioFront Technologies line of anti-Zika virus monoclonal antibodies and ELISA kits have been referenced in numerous publications including Nature and Nature Medicine. Our Zika virus (ZIKV) reagents continue to produce reliable and trusted results for researchers leading the fight against this global issue. Validated for use in Immunofluorescent, Western blot, and IP applications, BioFronts anti-ZIKV envelope monoclonal antibodies and anti-ZIKV NS1 monoclonal antibodies allow for highly sensitive and specific detection of all major ZIKV genotypes (MR766, FSS13025, PRVABC59) in various cell lines (Vero, C6-36, A549) without cross-reactivity to Dengue virus. ZIKA VIRUS ENVELOPE MONOCLONALS ZIKA VIRUS ENVELOPE ANTIGEN ZIKA VIRUS NS1 MONOCLONALS ZIKA VIRUS NS1 ANTIGEN ZIKA VIRUS NS5 MONOCLONALS ZIKA VIRUS NS5 ANTIGEN ZIKA VIRUS NS1 ELISA

Click to enlarge. Cases of Zika virus infection have appeared in travelers returning home after visits to places where local transmission is occurring. There have been over 30 documented travel-associated cases of Zika virus infection in 11 US states. During the first week of infection, Zika virus can be found in blood and passed from an infected person to mosquitoes. If travelers from regions where Zika virus is common have Zika virus in their blood on arrival in their home country and mosquitoes that can transmit Zika virus are present, local transmission of Zika virus is possible. But, because contact between mosquitoes and people is infrequent in most of the continental United States and Hawaii (due to mosquito control and people living and working in air-conditioned environments), local transmission of Zika virus is expected to be rare and limited.. Although Zika virus infection is transmitted primarily by mosquitoes, other modes of transmission are possible. There has been one report of ...

CDC has updated its interim guidance for U.S. health care providers caring for pregnant women with possible Zika virus exposure, to include the emerging data indicating that Zika virus RNA can be detected for prolonged periods in some pregnant women. To increase the proportion of pregnant women with Zika virus infection who receive a definitive diagnosis, CDC recommends expanding real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) testing. Possible exposures to Zika virus include travel to or residence in an area with active Zika virus transmission, or sex* with a partner who has traveled to or resides in an area with active Zika virus transmission without using condoms or other barrier methods to prevent infection.† Testing recommendations for pregnant women with possible Zika virus exposure who report clinical illness consistent with Zika virus disease§ (symptomatic pregnant women) are the same, regardless of their level of exposure (i.e., women with ongoing risk for ...

Coloured transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of Zika virus particles (green) isolated in kidney epithelial cells (Vero E6 cells). Zika viruses have a dense core surrounded by an envelope (40nm size). Zika virus is a RNA (ribonucleic acid) virus in the family Flaviviridae and causes Zika fever, or Zika disease. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes can transmit Zika virus to humans. Zika fever was first discovered in equatorial Africa and Asia in the late 1940s. From 2014-16 Zika fever has spread to South America. It has recently spread to the islands in the Caribbean. There is a possible link between Zika fever and microcephaly in newborn babies of mothers who have been infected with the Zika virus. In February 2016 Zika virus was discovered to be sexually transmitted in the USA. Magnification: x191,200 when shortest axis printed at 25 millimetres. Image courtesy of Cynthia S Goldsmith/CDC. - Stock Image F017/4179

The 2007 Yap Islands Zika virus outbreak represented the first time Zika virus had been detected outside Africa and Asia. It occurred in the Yap Islands, an island chain in the Federated States of Micronesia. Zika virus (ZIKV) is a vector-borne flavivirus in the same family as yellow fever, dengue, West Nile and Japanese encephalitis viruses. In 2007, physicians in the Ya Islands reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention an outbreak of an illness characterized by rash, conjunctivitis, and arthralgia. Initial serum testing revealed some patients had the IgM antibody against dengue virus, yet the patients signs and symptoms were clinically distinct from dengue fever. Subsequent retesting using consensus primers detected the presence of Zika virus RNA. A household survey was conducted to determine the proportion of Yap residents with the IgM antibody against Zika virus and to identify possible mosquito vectors of Zika virus. In total, the Yap Islands outbreak had 49 confirmed and ...

Summary In July 2016, CDC issued Interim Guidance for Health Care Providers Caring for Pregnant Women with Possible Zika Virus Exposure - United States, July 2016 (https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm6529e1.htm) that includes Zika virus immunoglobulin M (IgM) testing of pregnant women. However, some flavivirus infections can result in prolonged IgM responses (,12 weeks) that make it difficult to determine the timing of infection, especially in testing of asymptomatic people. Emerging epidemiologic and laboratory data indicate that Zika virus IgM can persist beyond 12 weeks in a subset of infected people. Therefore, detection of IgM may not always indicate a recent infection. Although IgM persistence could affect IgM test interpretation for all infected people, it would have the greatest effect on clinical management of pregnant women with a history of living in or traveling to areas with Zika virus transmission. Pregnant women who test positive for IgM antibody may have been infected with ...

Usutu virus (USUV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus, reported in many countries of Africa and Europe, with an increasing spatial distribution and host range. Recent outbreaks leading to regional declines of European common blackbird (Turdus merula) populations and a rising number of human cases emphasize the need for increased awareness and spatial risk assessment. Modelling approaches in ecology and epidemiology differ substantially in their algorithms, potentially resulting in diverging model outputs. Therefore, we implemented a parallel approach incorporating two commonly applied modelling techniques: (1) Maxent, a correlation-based environmental niche model and (2) a mechanistic epidemiological susceptible-exposed-infected-removed (SEIR) model. Across Europe, surveillance data of USUV-positive birds from 2003 to 2016 was acquired to train the environmental niche model and to serve as test cases for the SEIR model. The SEIR model is mainly driven by daily mean temperature and calculates the basic

WHAT IS ZIKA VIRUS? Zika virus disease (Zika) is a disease caused by Zika virus that is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week after being bitten by an infected mosquito. People usually dont get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they very rarely die of Zika. For this reason, many people might not realize they have been infected. Once a person has been infected, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections.. Zika virus was first discovered in 1947 and is named after the Zika forest in Uganda. In 1952, the first human cases of Zika were detected and since then, outbreaks of Zika have been reported in tropical Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Zika outbreaks have probably occurred in many locations. Before 2007, at least 14 cases of Zika had been ...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has transferred Zika virus specimens and CDC-developed diagnostics since CDC became involved to support the public health response for the Zika virus outbreak in February 2016. Such efforts continue today.. To date, CDC has shipped relevant Zika specimens for more than three years to 18 countries and 33 US states and territories, and continues to conduct transfers. The different strains/isolates of the Zika virus are essential to further Zika research, increase knowledge about the virus, and support vaccine and diagnostic test development.. CDC was the first organization to develop and receive the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for the Zika MAC-ELISA and real-time Trioplex RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) assays, two important Zika virus diagnostic tests. These diagnostic assays were, at first, the only tools for clinical testing of people exposed to Zika virus, symptomatic or ...

The Zika virus (Zika) is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus species of mosquito. Mosquito transmission of the Zika virus is found in over 50 countries and territories worldwide, including North, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Pacific Islands and Africa.. There have been travel-related cases of Zika virus infection in Missouri, but there have been no reported cases of Zika infection due to a local mosquito bite. Surveys are being conducted to determine if the types of mosquitoes found in Missouri can carry and spread Zika virus. We know that mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus are present in our state, so people should take precautions to protect themselves and their families even if Zika virus mosquitoes are not found. ...

Baltimore Classification and Taxonomy== Group IV: (+) sense single-stranded RNA virus ,br>,br> , Order = [[Unassigned]] , Family = [[Flaviviridae]] , Genus = [[Flavivirus]] , species = [[Zika virus]],br> {,NCBI: [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Info&id=64320&lvl=3&lin=f&keep=1&srchmode=1&unlock Taxonomy] Genome: ,font size=2>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genome/6441 Genome],/font>,} ==Description and Significance== ,br> Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that was first isolated from a rhesus monkey in the Zika forest of Uganda in 1947. [[#Reference,[3]]] In 1968, isolation from human hosts occurred in residents of Nigeria. [[#Reference,[2]]] Since then, multiple studies have confirmed ZIKV antibody in humans from a multitude of countries in Africa and parts of Asia. [[#Reference,[2]]] In 2015, ZIKV first appeared outside of Africa and Asia when it was isolated in Brazil where is has caused a minor outbreak following the 2014 FIFA World Cup. ...

Baltimore Classification and Taxonomy== Group IV: (+) sense single-stranded RNA virus ,br>,br> , Order = [[Unassigned]] , Family = [[Flaviviridae]] , Genus = [[Flavivirus]] , species = [[Zika virus]],br> {,NCBI: [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Info&id=64320&lvl=3&lin=f&keep=1&srchmode=1&unlock Taxonomy] Genome: ,font size=2>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genome/6441 Genome],/font>,} ==Description and Significance== ,br> Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that was first isolated from a rhesus monkey in the Zika forest of Uganda in 1947. [[#Reference,[3]]] In 1968, isolation from human hosts occurred in residents of Nigeria. [[#Reference,[2]]] Since then, multiple studies have confirmed ZIKV antibody in humans from a multitude of countries in Africa and parts of Asia. [[#Reference,[2]]] In 2015, ZIKV first appeared outside of Africa and Asia when it was isolated in Brazil where is has caused a minor outbreak following the 2014 FIFA World Cup. ...

The growing number of zika virus (ZIKV) infections plus a 20-fold increase in neonatal microcephaly in newborns in Brazil have raised alarms in many countries regarding the threat to pregnant women. Instances of microcephaly and central nervous system malformations continue to increase in ZIKV outbreak regions. ZIKV is a small enveloped positive-strand RNA virus belonging to the Flavivirus genus of the Flaviviridae family. High-resolution ZIKV structures recently identified by cryo-electron microscopy indicate that the overall ZIKV structure is similar to those of other flaviviruses. With its compact surface, ZIKV is more thermally stable than the dengue virus (DENV). ZIKV E proteins have a characteristic herringbone structure with a single glycosylation site. The ZIKV E protein, the major protein involved in receptor binding and fusion, is formed as a head-to-tail dimer on the surfaces of viral particles. The E monomer consists of three distinct domains: DI, DII, and DIII. The finger-like DII ...

GenWay provides the Zika Virus Capsid Protein for various research applications. The Zika virus is a member of the virus family Flaviviridae and the genus Flavivirus. The Zika Virus Capsid Protein is offered along with other various Zika virus products.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a member of the virus family Flaviviridae. It is spread by daytime-active Aedes mosquitoes, such as A. aegypti and A. albopictus. Its name comes from the Ziika Forest of Uganda, where the virus was first isolated in 1947. Zika virus is related to the dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile viruses. Since the 1950s, it has been known to occur within a narrow equatorial belt from Africa to Asia. From 2007 to 2016, the virus spread eastward, across the Pacific Ocean to the Americas, leading to the 2015-16 Zika virus epidemic. The infection, known as Zika fever or Zika virus disease, often causes no or only mild symptoms, similar to a very mild form of dengue fever. While there is no specific treatment, paracetamol (acetaminophen) and rest may help with the symptoms.. As of 2016, the illness cannot be prevented by medications or vaccines. Zika can spread from a pregnant woman to her baby. This can result in microcephaly, severe brain malformations, and other ...

According to a recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the CDC is recommending Zika virus testing for potentially exposed persons with signs or symptoms consistent with Zika virus disease, and recommends that health care providers offer testing to asymptomatic pregnant women within 12 weeks of exposure.. The recommendation comes after the CDC conducted a study of testing individuals from the United States and the District of Columbia over a two-month period, in which nearly 75% of those tested were pregnant women. Among all individuals exhibiting symptoms of Zika virus, fewer than 12% had confirmed infection. Only 0.3% (seven individuals) of asymptomatic pregnant women who were tested had confirmed infection.. Zika virus is a flavivirus primarily transmitted by Aedes species mosquitoes that has recently spread in the Region of the Americas. According to the CDC, from January 1, 2015 to April 13, 2016, a total of 358 travel-associated cases of Zika virus ...

Abstract. Rocio virus (ROCV) is a flavivirus, probably transmitted by Culex mosquitoes and maintained in nature as a zoonosis of wild birds. Rocio virus caused a human epidemic of severe encephalitis that lasted from 1973 to 1980 in the Ribeira valley, in the southeastern coast of Brazil. After this outbreak, serologic evidence of ROCV circulation has been reported and public health authorities are concerned about a return of ROCV outbreaks in Brazil. We show here a study on the pathogenesis and the physiopathology of ROCV disease in the central nervous system of a Balb/C young adult mice experimental model. The animals were intraperitoneally infected by ROCV and followed from 0 to 9 days after infection, when all of them died. Nervous tissue samples were collected from infected animals for immunohistochemistry and molecular biology analysis. We observed the virus in the central nervous system, the inflammatory changes induced by Th1 and Th2 cytokines, and the final irreversible damage of nervous

The ways of sexual activity might transmit Zika. This is of concern because of a connection between Zika virus infection and opposed being pregnant and fetal outcomes.. For areas with active transmission of Zika virus, all folks with Zika virus infection and their sexual companions (significantly pregnant ladies) should receive details about the dangers of sexual transmission of Zika virus. WHO recommends that sexually active women and men be accurately counseled and provided a full range of preventive strategies to have the ability to make an informed choice about whether or not and when to change into pregnant to prevent adverse pregnancy and fetal outcomes. Women whove had unprotected intercourse and dont wish to get pregnant because of concerns about Zika virus disease should have ready access to emergency contraceptive providers and counseling. Pregnant ladies should practice safer intercourse (together with the appropriate and constant use of condoms) or stop sexual activity for at least ...

People in this world are posing many health issues and different serious viruses which are providing harms to the human beings and also to the animals. Moreover, in this world with the development in the human brains, discoveries are often unlocking the conditions and seriousness of the various deceases and viruses, against which many time people need to gather together and fight simultaneously. This situation has already been occurred in relation to the cases of many deceases and viruses, like HIV/ AIDS, Cancer, etc. And now a day, as per experts research and ongoing circumstances, there is a major threat to the human community on this earths by the most terrifying Zika virus. As per experts analysis and meaning to this term, this Zika Virus (ZIKV) is a member of the virus family flaviviridae and the genus Flavivirus, which is transmitted by daytime- active Aedes mosquitoes. The name Zika Virus is brought from the Zika Forest of Uganda, where this virus was first isolated in the year ...

The current study is the first animal model study to demonstrate the protection conferred by experimental Zika virus vaccines when administered to female mice before they become pregnant and infected with Zika virus. Researchers gave 20 non-pregnant female mice two injections of the mRNA vaccine candidate 28 days apart and gave a separate group of 20 non-pregnant mice two injections of a placebo at the same time points. Another group of 18 female mice received a single immunization with the live-attenuated vaccine while a control group of 11 mice received a placebo injection. Subsequent tests revealed that mice that received mRNA experimental vaccine or live-attenuated experimental vaccine produced high levels of neutralizing antibodies against Zika virus in their blood.. All female mice were then mated and infected with Zika virus. One week after infection, the scientists observed that most fetuses in the vaccinated mice showed no evidence of having Zika virus transmitted to them from their ...

Zika virus can be sexually transmitted from a man to his sex partners. Zika virus infection is of particular concern during pregnancy. The first documented case of sexual transmission of Zika virus was in 2008 (2); transmission was from a man to a woman, and sexual contact occurred a few days before the mans symptom onset. The first case of sexual transmission associated with the current outbreak was reported in early February (Dallas County Health and Human Services, unpublished data, 2016). In late February 2016, CDC reported two additional confirmed cases of sexual transmission of Zika virus from men returning from areas with active Zika virus transmission to their sex partners in the United States; these transmissions occurred in early 2016 (3). As of March 18, 2016, CDC has reported three additional cases, for a total of six confirmed cases of sexual transmission in the United States associated with this outbreak.† Another recent report described a case of sexual transmission that ...

Travellers who are pregnant or considering pregnancy should take special precautions for themselves and their partners. Pregnant women: If you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, you should consider postponing travel to areas with risk of Zika Virus transmission. Avoid travel to areas with active Zika Virus outbreaks. Travellers with a pregnant partner: Practice safe sex for the duration of the pregnancy after returning from an area with Zika Virus transmission. Travellers considering pregnancy: After visiting an area at risk of Zika Virus transmission, men should wait 3 months and women should wait 2 months before trying to conceive. If both partners travelled together, they should wait 3 months. Practice safe sex or abstinence even if you or your partner do not have symptoms. Most Zika Virus infections are asymptomatic (show no signs or symptoms), but sexual transmission of the virus can still occur. ...

Contact: Media Relations https://www.cdc.gov/media (404) 639-3286. *CDC updates guidance for infants born to mothers with possible Zika virus infection during pregnancy*. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today issued updated interim clinical guidance https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6641a1.htm?s_cid=mm6641a1_w for health care providers caring for infants born to mothers with possible Zika virus infection during pregnancy. This update includes information that has become available since the August 2016 release of the previous guidance.. Zika virus continues to be a public health threat to pregnant women and their infants. Despite the lower number of Zika cases in 2017 than at this time during 2016, Zika cases continue to be reported by many countries around the world https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/zika-travel-information. Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause serious damage to the brain of the developing fetus. It can lead to congenital Zika syndrome in ...

As a result of increasing knowledge about the Zika virus, the CDC updated their recommendations. The changes are based on declining trends in the number of reported cases of Zika virus infection in the Americas, emerging evidence on prolonged detection of Zika IgM antibodies, and new limitations for interpreting serologic tests during pregnancy. IgM is most likely to be detected in the first 12 weeks after infection but may persist beyond 12 weeks in some infected individuals, limiting the ability of testing to determine whether an infection occurred during or prior to pregnancy. False positive results and cross-reactivity with other flaviviruses can occur with IgM assays. Therefore, it is important to ascertain whether a woman had exposure to flaviviruses other than Zika virus before the current pregnancy because a positive IgM result might have been caused by cross-reactivity from a previous flavivirus exposure. Given the possibility of a false positive result, laboratory test results should ...

Zika virus: Zika virus, infectious agent of the genus Flavivirus in the family Flaviviridae. Zika virus was first isolated in 1947 from a rhesus monkey that had been caged in the canopy

Zika virus is a disease caused by a virus transmitted by Aedes Mosquitoes which can breed in a pool of water as small as a bottle cap and usually bite during the day. About 1 in 5 people infected with Zika virus become ill. People with Zika virus disease usually have a mild fever, skin rash and conjunctivitis. Zika virus usually remains in the blood of an infected person for a few days but it can be found longer in some people.Deaths are rare.The symptoms of Zika are similar to those of dengue and chikungunya, diseases spread through the same mosquitoes that transmit Zika. These symptoms normally last for 2 to 7 days. ...

Our entire team is deeply committed to developing an animal model in which we can rapidly test a vaccine or therapy to determine if we can prevent fetal brain injury caused by the Zika virus, said Adams Waldorf. Primates, including people, are an order of mammals that share many features of brain development. Non-human and human primates gestations also have key similarities. These include the structure of the placenta, the timing of nerve and brain development, and the resulting proportions of gray and white matter in the brain. Previously, no experimental animal model closely emulated the effects of Zika virus infection during human pregnancy. While the virus can cause fetal demise in mice, mouse models have not enabled medical researchers to delve into the causal relationships between Zika virus infection and fetal brain injury. The Zika virus is transmitted by certain types of mosquitoes, including the Aedes egypti mosquito. It is a flavivirus, part of a group of insect-carried viruses ...

Brown University has been monitoring reports on the Zika virus in regions where its transmission is ongoing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 2-Practice Enhanced Precautions alert for individuals traveling to regions where Zika virus transmission is ongoing including Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Students planning travel to any of the affected regions should check Browns Health and Emergency Services for important updates prior to travel. Please also refer to their Facebook page for important travel preparation information, including Zika and its implications. The Zika virus is a mosquito-transmitted infection that typically causes mild symptoms including fever, rash, red eyes, and muscle aches in one out of five people. In addition, the Zika virus has been linked to increases in the occurrence of microcephaly, a serious birth defect that causes underdeveloped brains in infants. The CDC advises that pregnant women and women trying to ...

A multidisciplinary team from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston is the first in the world to genetically engineer a clone of the Zika virus strain, a development that could expedite many aspects of Zika research, including vaccine and therapeutics development.. Cloning the virus unlocks scientists ability to more quickly develop countermeasures and explore whether or how the Zika virus has evolved to spread more quickly and cause more severe diseases in people. This study is currently available in Cell Host and Microbe.. The new Zika clone, together with mosquito infection models and the UTMB-developed Zika mouse model, represent a major advance towards deciphering why the virus is tied to serious diseases, said lead author Pei-Yong Shi, UTMB endowed professor. The new clone is also a critical step in developing a vaccine and antiviral drug against Zika.. For 60 years, the Zika virus remained obscure with few identified cases in people and mild disease symptoms. However, ...

An infection with the Zika virus usually has no symptoms. Any symptoms that do occur are usually very mild. However, in Brazil doctors saw more babies with microcephaly (small heads) at the time of the outbreak of the Zika virus. The link between the Zika virus and microcephaly is now being studied intensively. The Zika virus cannot spread in The Netherlands.

Antigen-capture solid phase immunoassays employing flavivirus monoclonal antibodies MAB for the detection of yellow fever YF or dengue DEN viruses in cell cultures and serum have recently been reported. The assays, which employs virus type-specific, complex-reactive or group-reactive MAB in the capture phase, are reasonably sensitive and specific. The goal of our work has been the development of a generic flavivirus detection system and emphasis has been placed on an enzyme-linked immunoassay ELISA for the detection of DEN-infected mosquitoes. Attention has been directed at the identification and characterization of MAB with broad flavivirus group-reactive domain as determined by competitive binding assay with the expectation that such antibody combination will provide the best opportunity for antigen binding and therefore maximum assay sensitivity. However, since the available broadly group-reactive MAB has been found to exhibit at least some degree of cross-competition, flavivirus type-specific

Recently, we have shown that the ability of the flavivirus NS2B-NS3 protease complex to promote efficient signalase processing of the C-prM precursor, as well as secretion of prM and E, does not appear to depend strictly on cleavage of the precursor at its Lys-Arg-Gly dibasic site by the protease. We suggested that the association of the protease with the precursor via NS2B may be sufficient by itself for the above effects. To study the proposed association in more detail, we have developed an assay in which processing at the C-prM dibasic cleavage site is abolished by Lys--,Gly conversion. We constructed deletion mutants and chimeras of the West Nile (WN) flavivirus NS2B protein and expressed them in the context of [5-C--,NS3(243)] containing either wild-type C-prM or its cleavage site mutant. All NS2B variants were able to form active protease complexes. Deletion of the carboxy-terminal cluster of hydrophobic amino acids in NS2B had no apparent effect on the formation of prM and prM-E ...

Zika Virus Net is the web resource for anyone interested in Zika virus. The objectives of Zika Virus Net are to be the public and professional information resource for zika fever and to serve as a network in the exchange of information and news related to zika.

Zika Virus Net is the web resource for anyone interested in Zika virus. The objectives of Zika Virus Net are to be the public and professional information resource for zika fever and to serve as a network in the exchange of information and news related to zika.

Can you test for Zika? Description testing of Zika virus. Symptoms of Zika, Zika virus testing process & providers. Molecular & antibody tests for Zika virus?

On the Aug. 7 airing of the Outbreak News This Week Radio Show, Zika was the topic of the hour. The local transmission in the Miami area, the underreporting of Zika due to asymptomatic cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) advice for people living and traveling to the affected area of Miami and more topics were looked at during the first half.. During the second half, virologist and Columbia University Professor of Microbiology of Immunology, Vincent Racaniello, PhD discussed his thoughts on the Zika situation in the Miami area and a possible bigger picture. We dabbled in Washington politics and why he believes that Congress fails on Zika virus.. Dr Racaniello gave a good update on the progress towards a Zika vaccine and the number of types being worked on.. We also got an update from Zika Diaries, where he chronicles the start up of a Zika virus research laboratory.. Visit Virology Blog for news and analysis about viruses and viral disease. LISTEN to the podcast ...

Zika virus infection and Zika fever: Frequently asked questions What Is Zika Virus Infection? Zika virus infection is caused by the bite of an infected

The Zika virus, linked to congenital birth defects and miscarriages, suppresses a pregnant womans immune system, enabling the virus to spread and increasing the chances an unborn baby will be harmed, a Keck School of Medicine of USC study finds. The study is the first to report that the Zika virus targets specific white blood cells, handicapping a pregnant womans immune system in a way that almost resembles HIV, said Jae Jung, PhD, senior author of the study. Pregnant women are more susceptible to Zika virus because pregnancy naturally suppresses a womans immune system so her body doesnt reject the fetus - essentially its a foreign object, said Jung, Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Keck School - among the nations leaders in innovative scientific discovery. Our study shows pregnant women are more prone to immune suppression. Zika exploits that weakness to infect and replicate. The finding, published in Nature Microbiology on

The human body is full of amazing and complicated systems. One of the most impressive is the womans reproductive system. With built-in safeguards, a mothers body creates a haven for her growing fetus. When it comes to illness, a pregnant mother can become ill and never pass the illness onto her growing fetus. The Zika Virus seems to have defied this safeguard and scientists are asking why?. As reported in Forbes, In the case of flaviviruses which includes mosquito-borne diseases like yellow fever, West Nile Virus, and Zika Virus, it is rare for the virus to be passed from one generation to the next. Scientists credit the placenta with creating a barrier between the fetus and the mothers circulatory systems for this added protection. The discovery of Zika as a cause of microcephaly in infants alerted scientists to the fact that Zika can break through this layer of protection.. ...

Zika virus (ZIKV), belonging to the family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus, is an arthropod‐borne virus that was first discovered from the Zika forest in Uganda in 1947

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus which can cause severe disease in humans, including microcephaly and other congenital malformations in newborns and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. There are currently no approved prophylactics or therapeutics for Zika virus; the development of a safe and …

The global alarming starts for Zika virus. Already various countries has effected by this virus. Zika virus is spread out to human beings through mosquito b

This is an update of the ASRM Zika virus guidance for providers that addresses the care of non-pregnant patients desiring pregnancy, originally released in September 2016 and updated in August 2018. This revised document reflects the changes that the CDC has made on its Blood and Tissue Safety webpage to more clearly communicate epidemiological information about the risk of Zika virus infection outside of the U.S., with links to the updated CDC webpages. In addition, the most recent information about Zika virus infection risk within the U.S. is included.

New research reveals that in pregnant women, Zika virus infection damages certain cells that affect placental formation and function. Furthermore, herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) infection augments placental sensitivity to Zika virus by enhancing the expression of receptors that allow Zika virus to enter cells.

The Zika Virus Enters the Presidential Campaign The worry over the possible spread of the Zika virus to the United States this summer has now crossed over into the sphere of the presidential campaigns. Hillary Clinton responded to a question about the Zika virus on the question and answer website Quora recently. She referred to…. Read More ...

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that was first identified in Uganda in 1947 in monkeys. The first large outbreak of disease caused by Zika infection was reported from the Island of Yap (Federated States of Micronesia) in 2007. Sexual transmission of Zika virus has been confirmed with other modes of transmission being investigated. The incubation period of Zika virus disease is not well defined but is likely to be a few days - similar to other arbovirus infections such as dengue. A diagnosis of Zika virus infection can only be confirmed through laboratory tests on blood or other body fluids, such as urine, saliva or semen.. In 2015, an association between Zika virus infection and Guillain-Barré syndrome and microcephaly was reported. Now, a comprehensive review, confirms that the Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Some evidence exists that other neurological disorders are linked with Zika infection. ...

In 2015, outbreaks and evidence of transmission of Zika virus disease appeared throughout the Americas, Africa, and other regions of the world. To date, a total of 86 countries and territories have reported evidence of mosquito-transmitted Zika infection.. Symptoms are generally mild and include fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. Symptoms typically last for 2-7 days. Most people with Zika virus infection do not develop symptoms.. Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause infants to be born with microcephaly and other congenital malformations, known as congenital Zika syndrome. Infection with Zika virus is also associated with other complications of pregnancy including preterm birth and miscarriage.. An increased risk of neurologic complications is associated with Zika virus infection in adults and children, including Guillain-Barré syndrome, neuropathy and myelitis.. There is no specific medicine or vaccine for Zika virus, but symptoms can be ...

Zika fever is caused by Zika virus. Zika virus ( ZIKV ) is a member of the Flaviviridae virus family and the Flavivirus genus, transmitted by daytime- active Aedes mosquitoes, such as A. aegypti.. General. Zika virus is related to dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile viruses. The illness it causes is similar to a mild form of dengue fever, is treated by rest, and cannot yet be prevented by drugs or vaccines. There is a possible link between Zika fever and microcephaly in newborn babies by mother- to- child transmission, as well as a stronger one with neurological conditions in infected adults, including cases of the Gullain- Barre syndrome.. Along with other viruses in this family, Zika virus is enveloped and icosahedral and has a non segmented, single- stranded, positive sense RNA genome. It is most closely related to the spondweni virus and is one of the two viruses in the spondweni virus Clade.. Transmission. Zika virus is transmitted by daytime- active mosquitoes and ...

The Zika virus outbreak in the Americas resulted from the recent introduction of Asian-lineage strains into the Western hemisphere via Southeast Asia and Micronesia (29, 30). Their spread in a large and naïve population produced a full spectrum of disease in adults and birth defects in developing fetuses. Whether the Asian strains have acquired greater virulence or more efficient transmission is not known, but significant sequence variation from African strains is apparent. Such variation has made the specific detection of Asian versus African Zika viruses possible. Asian-lineage Zika viruses have now spread to the Cape Verde Islands (31) and are anticipated to enter Africa with uncertain outcomes in terms of human health. The ability to distinguish Asian and African Zika viruses will make it possible to better understand these outcomes. The need for rapid and inexpensive detection of the Asian-lineage Zika viruses in the Americas is already clear. The distinction of Asian and African Zika ...

Zika virus, a member of the Flavivirus genus, is maintained in complex African zoonotic cycles, spilling from time to time into the Aedes aegypti mosquito urban transmission cycle (5). This spillover might be a very old phenomenon. Because many flaviviruses infect humans in Africa, it was logical to ask if antibodies to these viruses enhanced Zika virus infections. The answer obtained in vitro was affirmative (6). After having been first isolated in Africa in 1947, human Zika virus disease remained sparse and mild, with no reports of diverse clinical syndromes associated with infection (7). Nor was Zika disease reported from India or Southeast Asia, where Zika virus and DENV co-circulated, evidenced by detection of neutralizing antibodies in humans as early as 1954 (8-10). Zika virus was isolated from Ae. aegypti mosquitoes collected in rural Malaysia in 1966 (11). No alarms were raised in Asia until 2007, on the Yap Islands in the Western Pacific, when it was estimated that ≈900 cases of a ...

The incubation period is typically 3-12 days. There is no specific treatment for Zika virus infection and if symptoms develop these will typically clear up within 4-7 days. Get plenty of rest and fluids, and treat the symptoms that you have. Use paracetamol for pain and fever if needed. Until dengue can be ruled out, do not take aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, due to the risk of bleeding.. Zika virus is transmitted by mosquitoes (members of the Aedes family) that are active during the day. Anyone who is bitten by an infected mosquito is potentially at risk of infection.. Zika virus and pregnancy Pregnant women who become infected with Zika virus can transmit the disease to their unborn babies, with potentially serious consequences. Prenatal Zika virus infection is a cause of microcephaly and other serious brain anomalies in developing fetuses. Reports from several countries, most notably Brazil, show that there has been an increase in severe birth ...

TY - JOUR. T1 - A single-dose live-attenuated vaccine prevents Zika virus pregnancy transmission and testis damage. AU - Shan, Chao. AU - Muruato, Antonio E.. AU - Jagger, Brett W.. AU - Richner, Justin. AU - Nunes, Bruno T.D.. AU - Medeiros, Daniele B.A.. AU - Xie, Xuping. AU - Nunes, Jannyce G.C.. AU - Morabito, Kaitlyn M.. AU - Kong, Wing Pui. AU - Pierson, Theodore C.. AU - Barrett, Alan. AU - Weaver, Scott. AU - Rossi, Shannan. AU - Vasconcelos, Pedro F.C.. AU - Graham, Barney S.. AU - Diamond, Michael S.. AU - Shi, Pei-Yong. PY - 2017/12/1. Y1 - 2017/12/1. N2 - Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause congenital abnormities or fetal demise. The persistence of Zika virus in the male reproductive system poses a risk of sexual transmission. Here we demonstrate that live-attenuated Zika virus vaccine candidates containing deletions in the 3′ untranslated region of the Zika virus genome (ZIKV-3′UTR-LAV) prevent viral transmission during pregnancy and testis damage in mice, as well as ...

NEW YORK: A total of 116 residents in the US have now been confirmed to have tested positive for the Zika virus, says a report by US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).. During January 1, 2015-February 26, 2016, a total of 116 residents of 33 US states and the District of Columbia had laboratory evidence of recent Zika virus infection based on testing performed at CDC, said the report released on Friday.. Among those who tested positive for the virus is an infant who was born with severe microcephaly, a brain development disorder linked to Zika virus infection.. One case occurred in a full-term infant born with severe congenital microcephaly, whose mother had Zika virus disease in Brazil during the first trimester of pregnancy, the report said.. The other 115 persons either reported recent travel to areas with active Zika virus transmission or sexual contact with such a traveller, showed the findings published in CDCs latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.. All 115 ...

Zika virus is spread mostly by the bite of an Aedes species mosquito. These mosquitoes are aggressive biters and prefer to live around people inside or outside their homes. Zika virus can also be transmitted sexually, and from an infected mother to her fetus. Symptoms of Zika virus include fever, joint pain, rash, and pink eye. Many people feel no symptoms at all. Zika virus can be spread before symptoms begin, during symptoms and after symptoms subside. Zika virus can also be found in other body fluids such as blood, saliva and urine. Prevention measures include: ...

Travellers who are pregnant or considering pregnancy should take special precautions for themselves and their partners. Pregnant women: If you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, you should consider postponing travel to areas with risk of Zika Virus transmission. Avoid travel to areas with active Zika Virus outbreaks. Travellers with a pregnant partner: Practice safe sex for the duration of the pregnancy after returning from an area with Zika Virus transmission. Travellers considering pregnancy: After visiting an area at risk of Zika Virus transmission, men should wait 3 months and women should wait 2 months before trying to conceive. If both partners travelled together, they should wait 3 months. Practice safe sex or abstinence even if you or your partner do not have symptoms. Most Zika Virus infections are asymptomatic (show no signs or symptoms), but sexual transmission of the virus can still occur. ...

The potential for a localized or regional outbreak of Zika virus disease in the United States is significant given the level of travel exposure, opportunities for Zika virus migration, and the prevalence of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes along the southern and southeastern rim of the country. This course will review the history of Zika virus migration and the important clinical and public health aspects of Zika virus disease, including the epidemiology, modes of transmission, clinical manifestations, approach to diagnosis, and strategies for prevention and control of Zika virus infection.

The Zika virus is a mosquito-transmitted infection that is spreading explosively across Caribbean, South and Central American countries since an initial outbreak occurred last May in Brazil. As of February 24, 2016, there have been 107 travel-associated cases of Zika virus reported within the United States, plus 39 locally-acquired and one travel-associated case in U.S. territories. Most people infected with the Zika virus are asymptomatic or only have mild symptoms such as fever, chills and joint pain. There is major concern for pregnant women and their babies because Zika virus has been linked to microcephaly, a birth defect where a babys head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age.. Scientists do not fully understand the connection, but early evidence suggests that Zika virus has contributed to an increase in the number of cases of microcephaly in Brazil since the outbreak began. Babies with microcephaly often have smaller brains that might not have ...

UN Health chief: Zika spreading explosively Spreading explosively is the World Health Organizations (WHO) characterization of the Zika virus. The statement may be political grandstanding, such statements cause panic. The Zika virus is spreading. Zika virus infection is highly toxic if acquired during pregnancy. Zika virus has been around a long time. We know the Zika…

Flaviviruses, including dengue virus (DENV) and Zika virus (ZIKV), rely heavily on the availability of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes throughout their lifecycle and degradation of ER membranes restricts flavivirus replication. Accordingly, DENV and ZIKV restrict ER turnover by protease-mediated cleavage of reticulophagy regulator 1 (RETREG1), also known as FAM134B, an autophagy receptor responsible for targeted ER sheet degradation. Given that the induction of autophagy may play an important role in flavivirus replication, the antiviral role of RETREG1 suggests specialized autophagic pathways may have differential effects on the flavivirus lifecycle. We previously identified BPI Fold Containing Family B Member 3 (BPIFB3) as a regulator of autophagy that negatively controls enterovirus replication. Here, we show that in contrast to enteroviruses, BPIFB3 functions as a positive regulator of DENV and ZIKV infection and that its RNAi-mediated silencing inhibits the formation of viral ...

The Ministry of Health (MOH), Singapore has been closely monitoring the Zika virus situation, and will be introducing several measures to enhance the surveillance of the disease and the protection of Singaporeans. We also urge all Singaporeans to take the appropriate precautions to prevent mosquito breeding as vector control is critical in preventing transmission and reducing the risk of the virus from taking root in Singapore.. 2. Currently, South America is seeing a large outbreak of Zika virus infection, with Brazil reporting the largest outbreak, estimated at over 1 million infections in 2015. Within South East Asia, sporadic cases of Zika have been detected from Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, East Malaysia and Thailand in recent years. Taiwan reported an imported case of Zika virus infection from Thailand on 19 January.. 3. Since 2013, the National Environment Agency (NEA) has had an ongoing surveillance programme for the virus. While we have not detected any case of Zika virus infection ...

January 30, 2019. Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi have found a drug hydroxychloroquine or HCQ, that is already being used for treating malaria to be effective in inhibiting Zika virus growth and replication.. Also, the drug was able to significantly reduce viral load in placental cells. Zika virus is known to damage and kill the placental cells (which act as a barrier to protect the developing foetus from disease-causing organisms) leading to foetal infection. The drug might therefore help in preventing vertical transmission of Zika virus from the placenta to the foetus.. Since the HCQ drug is already approved for use in pregnancy, positive results in human trials will mean that it can be given to pregnant women infected with Zika to reduce the chances of vertical transmission. Some foetuses infected with Zika virus are born with a small head (microcephaly).. Read more. ...

Zika virus infections have been confirmed in infants with microcephaly, and in the current outbreak in Brazil, a marked increase in the number of infants born with microcephaly has been reported. Because there is no vaccine or prophylactic medication available to prevent Zika virus infection, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that pregnant women consider postponing travel to areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing.. As part of our Occupational Health program, SGS has issued a notice to employees either living in countries with active Zika virus transmission or who plan to travel to these countries to follow the precautions recommended by the World Health Organization to prevent mosquito bites, and to proactively manage the situation using the SGS Malaria Control and Prevention procedures detailed in our Operational Integrity Management System (OIMS). Alongside written guidance, SGS also provides malaria awareness and prevention training to employees considered ...

19 May 2017. Scientists will test whether the Zika virus can destroy brain tumour cells, potentially leading to new treatments for one of the hardest to treat cancers. Dr Harry Bulstrode at the University of Cambridge has received a Cancer Research UK Pioneer Award to test the effect of the Zika virus on glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive form of brain tumour.. The research, using tumour cells in the laboratory and in mice, will see if the virus can destroy cancer cells.. Each year around 2,300 people are diagnosed with glioblastoma in England. And fewer than five per cent of patients survive their disease for five years or more.. Existing treatments are limited by their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, and doses must be kept low to avoid damage to healthy tissue.. The Zika virus can cross the blood-brain barrier, and could target cancer cells, sparing normal adult brain tissue and opening a potential new way to attack the disease.. Zika virus infection in pregnancy causes ...

Earlier this week, the Ministry of Health on Nevis was informed of the first laboratory confirmed case of Zika Virus Disease on Nevis. This is the result of a test done in late August. The patient had no recent travel history, had mild symptoms, did not require hospitalization and was well within a few days. The sample was sent to the Caribbean Health Agency (CARPHA) from the Alexandra Hospital Laboratory.. The Ministry of Health wishes to reiterate that there is no need for alarm or panic.. This brings the Federations total number of laboratory confirmed cases to four. However, the number of suspected cases on Nevis, that is, persons showing symptoms suggestive of Zika Virus Disease, has risen to 57.. Symptoms suggestive of Zika Virus Disease include an itchy rash plus 2 of the following - mild fever, red eye without pus, muscle aches, joint pains and joint swelling.. Residents are asked to note that four out of five persons who are infected with Zika virus do not show symptoms.. Furthermore, ...

Press Release:. NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (October 07, 2016) - The following is a press release from the Ministry of Health in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), dated October 07, 2016, concerning an update of the Zika Virus Disease on Nevis.. Earlier this week, the Ministry of Health on Nevis was informed of the first laboratory confirmed case of Zika Virus Disease on Nevis. This is the result of a test done in late August. The patient had no recent travel history, had mild symptoms, did not require hospitalization and was well within a few days. The sample was sent to the Caribbean Health Agency (CARPHA) from the Alexandra Hospital Laboratory.. The Ministry of Health wishes to reiterate that there is no need for alarm or panic.. This brings the Federations total number of laboratory confirmed cases to four. However, the number of suspected cases on Nevis, that is, persons showing symptoms suggestive of Zika Virus Disease, has risen to 57.. Symptoms suggestive of Zika Virus Disease include an ...

Molecular characterization of two rocio flavivirus strains isolated during the encephalitis epidemic in são paulo state, brazil and the development of a one-step rt-pcr assay for diagnosis; Caracterização molecular de duas cepas do flavivírus Rocio, isoladas durante a epidemia de encefalite no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil e desenvolvimento do teste one-step RT-PCR para ...

Author Summary Zika fever is a mosquito-borne illness caused by a flavivirus. Human infections with Zika virus (ZIKV) could cause fever, malaise and cutaneous rash. Despite several ZIKV reports since 1947 when it was first isolated at Zika forest in Uganda, molecular evolution of ZIKV as an emerging agent remains poorly understood. Moreover, despite several ZIKV reports from Africa and Asia, few human cases were notified until 2007 when an epidemic took place in Micronesia. In West Africa, surveillance programs have reported periodic circulation of the virus since 1968. To help fill the gap in understanding ZIKV evolution, 43 ZIKV samples were analyzed. We focused on: (i) adaptive genetic changes including protein glycosylation patterns, (ii) phylogenetic relationship among isolates and their spatiotemporal patterns of spread across Africa and Asia and, (iii) dispersion among vertebrate reservoirs and invertebrate vector species. Our results indicated that ZIKV may have experienced recombination in

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that is transmitted through the bite of Aedes spp mosquitoes and less predominantly, through sexual intercourse. Prior to 2007, ZIKV was associated with only sporadic human infections with minimal or no clinical manifestations. Recently the virus has caused disease outbreaks from the Pacific Islands, the Americas, and off the coast of West Africa with approximately 1.62 million people suspected to be infected in more than 60 countries around the globe. The recent ZIKV outbreaks have been associated with guillain-barré syndrome, congenital syndrome (microcephaly, congenital central nervous system anomalies), miscarriages, and even death. This review summarizes the path of ZIKV outbreak within the last decade, highlights three novel modes of ZIKV transmission associated with recent outbreaks, and points to the hallmarks of congenital syndrome. The review concludes with a summary of challenges facing ZIKV research especially the control of ZIKV infection in

The FDA has critical responsibilities in outbreak situations and has been working rapidly to take important steps to respond to the emerging Zika virus outbreak, Dr. Luciana Borio, the FDAs acting chief scientist, said in an agency news release.. There have been no reports to date of Zika virus entering the U.S. blood supply, the FDA said. But, the risk of blood transmission is considered likely based on the most current scientific evidence of how Zika and similar viruses are spread.. About four out of five people infected with Zika virus do not become ill, which makes it tougher to determine whose blood might carry the pathogen, the agency noted.. The FDA announcement followed a similar move by the American Red Cross last week, in which the organization asked potential blood donors who have traveled to Zika-affected areas to wait 28 days before giving blood.. Zika has not yet emerged in the United States, but the recommendations issued by the FDA also cover that eventuality.. The agency ...

One of the most recent states of emergency was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the outbreak and possible pandemic of the Zika Virus, which has a suspected connection to birth defects.. The Zika Virus is an outbreak of a flu-like illness caused by the Zika mosquito. It was first detected in Brazil during May of 2015 and it has now been transmitted to over twenty countries all over Latin America including Jamaica and Costa Rica. Two cases have been reported in the United States. The main concern about contracting this virus is that it is linked to microcephaly. This condition will cause a baby to be born have a very small head and brain damage. These types of cases of microcephaly have reported extreme increases in numbers for Brazil and 4000 cases have been reported since October, 2015. Some people have very mild symptoms and others become extremely ill.. The Director General of WHO has said that microcephaly and the Zika Virus connection is quite cloudy and that this ...

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that mostly causes asymptomatic infections or mild disease characterized by low-grade fever, rash, conjunctivitis, and malaise. However, the recent massive ZIKV epidemics in the Americas have also linked ZIKV infection to fetal malformations like microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults, and have uncovered previously unrecognized routes of vertical and sexual transmission. Here we describe inhibition of ZIKV replication by suramin, originally an anti-parasitic drug, which was more recently shown to inhibit multiple viruses. In cell culture-based assays, using reduction of cytopathic effect as read-out, suramin had an EC50 of ~40μM and a selectivity index of 48. In single replication cycle experiments, suramin treatment also caused a strong dose-dependent decrease in intracellular ZIKV RNA levels and a ,3-log reduction in infectious progeny titers. Time-of-addition experiments revealed that suramin inhibits a very early step of the ...

The Public Health Laboratory Network have developed a standard case definition for the diagnosis of diseases which are notifiable in Australia. This page contains the laboratory case definition for alphavirus and flavivirus infections.

This January, there were reports from different countries regarding a disease caused by Zika virus. Zika virus causes a influenza-like disease with concurrent conjunctivitis. Some cases are asymptomatic (does not manifest any symptoms) and it can be acquired when bitten by an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito - the same type of mosquito that spreads dengue, Chikungunya, and yellow fever. Symptoms of Zika virus infection usually begin 3-7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Common symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis. Other symptoms are muscle pain, headache, and vomiting. The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for 2-7 days. Hence, it is very important to clean the surroundings in order to prevent the breeding of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that serve as the vector of the said virus ...

On March 18, 2016, this report was posted as an MMWR Early Release on the MMWR website. : Zika virus is an emerging mosquito-borne flavivirus. Recent outbreaks of Zika virus disease in the Pacific Islands and the Region of the Americas have identifie ...

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne disease that is a member of the flavivirus group. This group includes several other viruses that cause serious, sometimes life-threatening diseases such as yellow fever, dengue fever, West Nile and Japanese encephalitis.. Zika virus has been known for decades to circulate in Africa and Asia and more recently in the Pacific Islands, but very few cases of human disease were documented before 2007. In May of 2015, the first infections were confirmed in Brazil. Since then, millions people have been infected with Zika virus. Zika is now confirmed to be circulating in several countries and territories in the Americas including Mexico and is probably present in even more. The list of countries where Zika virus has been identified can change with new cases identified. What are the symptoms of Zika virus? In children and adults, Zika virus infection is generally mild - some develop flu-like symptoms, joint pain, eye inflammation and red rashes, while other people may not ...

WMAQ) Pregnant women are among nearly four dozen cases of the Zika virus reported in Illinois, the Illinois Department of Public Health said Thursday. The department reported 46 total cases of the virus statewide, with eight women listed in the Zika Virus Pregnancy Registry. A spokesperson for the department initially said the eight women were confirmed to have Zika virus, but later said five cases remained unclear. ...

*NO PROOF THAT THE ZIKA VIRUS IS CAUSING UNDERDEVELOPED BRAINS, SAYS GERMAN SCIENTIST Christina Frank, epidemiologist, from the Robert-Koch-Institut in Germany has said there is no proof that the Zika virus is causing underdeveloped brains. http://www.zeit.de/2016/05/zika-virus-lateinamerika-entwicklungsstoerung-schwangerschaft She notes that the Zika virus has been around for a long time. The virus was identified by researchers…

Link to Pubmed [PMID] - 30650657. Viruses 2019 01;11(1). Flaviviruses, such as dengue (DENV), West Nile (WNV), yellow fever (YFV) and Zika (ZIKV) viruses, are mosquito-borne pathogens that present a major risk to global public health. To identify host factors that promote flavivirus replication, we performed a genome-wide gain-of-function cDNA screen for human genes that enhance the replication of flavivirus reporter particles in human cells. The screen recovered seventeen potential host proteins that promote viral replication, including the previously known dolichyl-diphosphooligosaccharide-protein glycosyltransferase non-catalytic subunit (DDOST). Using silencing approaches, we validated the role of four candidates in YFV and WNV replication: ribosomal protein L19 (RPL19), ribosomal protein S3 (RPS3), DDOST and importin 9 (IPO9). Applying a panel of virological, biochemical and microscopic methods, we validated further the role of RPL19 and DDOST as host factors required for optimal ...

Zika can be very dangerous for a baby growing in the womb, but not all babies born to women who get Zika during pregnancy will have problems. In Brazil, following an outbreak of Zika, some babies were born with a serious condition called microcephaly, where the babys head is too small. Babies with microcephaly may die at birth or may live for many years but have problems developing physically and mentally. Because of this, all women and especially women who might be pregnant should try to prevent mosquito bites by covering up with clothing, using mosquito repellents, and keeping mosquitoes away by using screens and bed nets in the home. If you are thinking about getting pregnant, it is a good idea to wait until after Zika is no longer affecting people in your community. Ensuring that birth control is made accessible to all women is an important way to limit harm from the Zika virus. Zika can be passed from a man to a woman during sex. In an area with Zika, use condoms to prevent passing Zika. ...

Animation of the structure of a Zika virus particle. The virus has an outer coat or envelope, studded with glycoproteins that help it bind to its target cell. Inside this is the protein capsid (red), which encloses the genetic material. This virus causes Zika fever, and is spread by the bites of infected mosquitoes. The disease originated in tropical east Africa, and was first detected in Uganda in 1947. Since April 2015 there has been a significant outbreak in South America, which started in Brazil and is spreading rapidly. The World Health Organisation stated it expected the disease to have spread to the majority of the Americas by the end of 2016. There have been reports of sexual transmission of the virus, and also of birth defects in pregnant women who become infected, with a rise in the rate of microcephaly being linked to the disease. Zika virus is a flavivirus, related to yellow fever. Each virus particle is around 50 nanometres in diameter. - Stock Video Clip K005/6534

Additionally, men with confirmed cases of Zika or who have visited epidemic areas are advised to wait at least six months after their trip or symptoms begin before having unprotected sex, Swiger said. These recommendations are based on current knowledge of how long the Zika virus remains active in the body and in the semen.. Remember that 80 percent of the people who are infected with Zika dont feel ill or demonstrate any of the symptoms such as joint pain, fever, itchy eyes or rash, Merchant said. Just because you feel well, it doesnt mean you have avoided infection.. Swiger said women should be particularly aware that even if their male partner has not experienced any Zika symptoms, he could still be carrying the virus. A person can be considered viremic up to one week, meaning the virus can be picked up by a mosquito in the blood at feeding.. At this time there is no evidence women can pass the Zika virus to men, only the reverse, she noted.. Merchant said another means of ...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued a travel warning for a neighborhood north of Miami, in which 39 cases of the Zika virus have been transmitted locally by mosquitoes. Now that Zika has reached the continental United States, efforts have intensified to fight the virus, which is also spread through sexual contact. However, one at-risk group is missing from the conversation: Millennials. Protecting the reproductive rights of Millennials must be central to an effective Zika response that safeguards young Americans and minimizes the possibility of an epidemic.. As of March 2016, nearly half of female U.S. residents carrying the Zika virus were in the Millennial age range. Moreover, young people could face a higher risk of sexually transmitted Zika, a trend that demands attention due to the fact that sexual transmission may contribute more to infection rates than health experts originally suspected. According to U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al ...

Drug Innovation Ventures at Emory (DRIVE) and the Emory Institute for Drug Development (EIDD) have launched an effort to identify and develop antivirals to treat the infection caused by Zika virus. There are currently no treatments or vaccines against the virus, which has been declared a public health emergency and is linked to birth defects.. According to George Painter, PhD, CEO of DRIVE and director of EIDD, for the past three years, we have been synthesizing and developing antivirals against alphaviruses, such as chikungunya, and flaviviruses, such as dengue. Since Zika is a flavivirus in the same family as dengue and hepatitis C, we can apply what we have learned working on alphaviruses and flaviviruses, as well as from our past success with treatments for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and herpes viruses, in our search for an effective drug.. We are making progress developing a Zika RNA Polymerase Assay, says Abel De La Rosa, PhD, chief scientific officer of DRIVE and EIDD. This assay ...

TY - JOUR. T1 - Genomic characterization of Zika virus isolated from Indonesia. AU - Yudhaputri, Frilasita A.. AU - Trimarsanto, Hidayat. AU - Perkasa, Aditya. AU - Yohan, Benediktus. AU - Haryanto, Sotianingsih. AU - Wiyatno, Ageng. AU - Kusumo, Amin Subandrio W.. AU - Myint, Khin Saw. AU - Ledermann, Jeremy P.. AU - Rosenberg, Ronald. AU - Powers, Ann M.. AU - Sasmono, R. Tedjo. PY - 2017/10/1. Y1 - 2017/10/1. N2 - Zika virus (ZIKV) JMB-185 strain was isolated from a febrile patient in Jambi, Indonesia in 2014. To understand its genetic characteristics, we performed whole genome sequencing using the Ion Torrent PGM platform on the supernatant of the first passage. The phylogenetic analysis showed that the isolate was not closely related to the Brazilian ZIKV associated with microcephaly or isolates from the recent Singapore Zika outbreak. Molecular evolution analysis indicated that JMB-185 strain may have been circulating in the Southeast Asia region, including Indonesia since 2000. We ...

UC Riverside March 27, 2017 Iqbal Pittalwala The image shows the crystal structure of ZIKV NS5 protein. The regions with different colors represent individual domains or motifs of ZIKV NS5. The black circle marks the location of the potential inhibitor-binding site. Image credit: Song lab, UC Riverside. Zika virus (ZIKV), which causes Zika virus disease,…

Dengue virus (DENV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) are closely related mosquito-borne flaviviruses that co-circulate in tropical regions and constitute major threats to global human health. Whether preexisting immunity to one virus affects disease caused by the other during primary or secondary infections is unknown but is critical in preparing for future outbreaks and predicting vaccine safety. Using a human skin explant model, we show that DENV-3 immune sera increased recruitment and infection of Langerhans cells, macrophages, and dermal dendritic cells following inoculation with DENV-2 or ZIKV. Similarly, ZIKV immune sera enhanced infection with DENV-2. Immune sera increased migration of infected Langerhans cells to the dermis and emigration of infected cells out of skin. Heterotypic immune sera increased viral RNA in the dermis almost 10-fold and reduced the amount of virus required to infect a majority of myeloid cells by 100- to 1000-fold. Enhancement was associated with cross-reactive IgG and ...

The History of Vaccines explores the role of immunization in the human experience and examines its continuing contributions to public health.

SUMMARY / ABSTRACTThe outbreak of Zika virus (ZIKV) and the alarming rise in fetal brain malformations highlight ZIKV as an urgentpublic health concern. ZIKV has recently met Shephards criteria for teratogenic classification because of thebrain anomalies reported. This application addresses the direct relationship between ZIKV infection and fetalbrain development using our established fetal primate model of intrauterine pathogenesis. The studies outlinedin this application leverage our prior discoveries and collaborative investigations on neural precursor cellfunction in relation to microglia in the fetal primate brain, and our expertise in primate development, imaging,virology, and immunology. Our track record and experienced team provides the means to pursue the goals ofthis proposal?understanding the mechanism(s) of ZIKV teratogenesis?and the steps necessary to progressto studies focused on interventions. Our goal is to determine how ZIKV alters cortical development bycapitalizing on our ...

CDC scientists found Zika virus RNA persisted in fetal brains and in placentas for more than seven months after the mothers contracted Zika. The researchers also found evidence of the virus replicating in an infant with microcephaly who died two months after birth. The RNA levels were about 1,000 times higher in the infants brains than in the womens placentas, according to the study published today in CDCs Emerging Infectious Diseases journal. Our findings show that Zika virus can continue to replicate in infants brains even after birth, and that the virus can persist in placentas for months - much longer than we expected, said Julu Bhatnagar, Ph.D., lead of the molecular pathology team at CDCs Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch and the studys lead author. We dont know how long the virus can persist, but its persistence could have implications for babies born with microcephaly and for apparently healthy infants whose mothers had Zika during their pregnancies. More studies are needed ...

New (4/25/16) Interim Guidance from CDC and OSHA for Protecting Workers from Occupational Exposure to Zika Virus View Here Main Zika CDC Page FirstWatch Medical Director Alex Garza on Fox 2 Now St. Louis talking Zika Virus View Here Zika, What You Should Know: FirstWatch Medical Director Alex Garza on St. Louis on the Air View Here FirstWatch Medical Director Alex Garza on Zika in on PBS SciTech Now Episode View Here 10 Questions About Zika Answered by CDC View Here History and Current Areas Effected View Here Poster for Definitions of Local Cases View Here Poster for Definitions of Imported Cases View Here Currently Known Routes of Transmission View Here MMWR: Zika in Pregnancy View Here Blood Transfusion View Here Sexual Transmission: Male to Female View Here MMWR: Zika Sexual Transmission View Here CDC Signs & Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Recommended Treatment View Here CDC: Mosquito Control View Here CDC: Zika Prevention View Here CDC: Health Care Worker - Clinical Evaluation View Here CDC: ...

New (4/25/16) Interim Guidance from CDC and OSHA for Protecting Workers from Occupational Exposure to Zika Virus View Here Main Zika CDC Page FirstWatch Medical Director Alex Garza on Fox 2 Now St. Louis talking Zika Virus View Here Zika, What You Should Know: FirstWatch Medical Director Alex Garza on St. Louis on the Air View Here FirstWatch Medical Director Alex Garza on Zika in on PBS SciTech Now Episode View Here 10 Questions About Zika Answered by CDC View Here History and Current Areas Effected View Here Poster for Definitions of Local Cases View Here Poster for Definitions of Imported Cases View Here Currently Known Routes of Transmission View Here MMWR: Zika in Pregnancy View Here Blood Transfusion View Here Sexual Transmission: Male to Female View Here MMWR: Zika Sexual Transmission View Here CDC Signs & Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Recommended Treatment View Here CDC: Mosquito Control View Here CDC: Zika Prevention View Here CDC: Health Care Worker - Clinical Evaluation View Here CDC: ...

http://www.iflscience.com/sites/www.iflscience.com/files/styles/ifls_large/public/blog/%5Bnid%5D/zika.jpg?itok=IpBh1WLI http://www.scienceofwonder.org/world-health-orgaization-declares-zika-virus-a-global-health-emergency/ The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Zika virus an international health emergency on Monday,a rare moveprompted by the explosive spread of the mosquito-borne virus. The Zika virus is now in more than 20 countries and territories in the Americas, with no effective vaccine or treatmet yet developed. Although most cases of the…

Texas has reported 166 individuals into the CDCs Zika Pregnancy Registry. The registry includes pregnant women with laboratory evidence of Zika infection and their infants, regardless of laboratory evidence. Texas provides data to the Zika Pregnancy Registry weekly. The registry casts a wider net - beyond reported Zika cases - to track and follow pregnancies that may have been impacted by Zika. (…) - Keywords: USA; Updates; Zika Virus; Texas. ------. ...

Two researchers at the Emerging Pathogens Institute received RAPID awards from the National Science Foundation in May to study the prevalence of the Zika virus and its potential impact on vulnerable populations.. Dr. Derek Cummings, a professor of biology at the University of Florida, will develop estimates detailing the risk the virus poses around the globe. In a separate project, Dr. Sadie Ryan, an assistant professor of geography at the University of Florida, will focus her efforts on determining the prevalence of Zika virus and dengue virus co-infections and the effect household climatic factors have on disease transmission. Cummings is the principal investigator for his award, and Ryan is the co-principal investigator for hers.. Cummings is partnering with researchers in multiple international locations in order to estimate the potential threat Zika and several other vector-borne diseases pose to the global community.. Were utilizing a novel technique developed by the Institut Pasteur to ...