In this paper the OpenZika team summarize current computational drug discovery efforts and their applicability to discovery of anti-ZIKV drugs. Lastly, successful examples of the use of computational approaches to ZIKV drug discovery are presented. Learn more
Although most risk associated with Zika so far has focused on infants, it turns out that adults might not be in the clear. Researchers from Rockefeller University and the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology say there’s evidence that Zika could inflict our brain’s stem cells, even as adults. Read more Although ZIKV is […]
India has recorded its biggest outbreak of Zika virus to date (October 12th), with 32 cases confirmed in Jaipur, capital of the western state of Rajasthan. The number of suspected cases cannot be estimated, said Veenu Gupta, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Medical and Health & Family Welfare Department for the state, adding that […]
A comprehensive A-Z review of the recent advances in ZIKV drug discovery efforts is presented, highlighting drug repositioning and computationally guided compounds, including discovered viral and host cell inhibitors. Promising ZIKV molecular targets are also described and discussed, as well as targets belonging to the host cell, as new opportunities for ZIKV drug discovery. All […]
Phylogenetic analysis reveals that contemporary epidemic strains have accumulated multiple substitutions from their Asian ancestor. Here, we show that a single serine to asparagine substitution (S139N) in the viral polyprotein substantially increased ZIKV infectivity in both human and mouse neural progenitor cells (NPCs), led to more significant microcephaly in the mouse fetus, and higher mortality […]
Para um grupo de cientistas chineses, foi uma mutação genética, provavelmente ocorrida em 2013, que deu ao agente patógeno o potencial de causar deformações neurológicas graves. Cientistas brasileiros, da Europa, EUA e Canadá já haviam identificado sete mutações específicas de vírus da zika espalhados pelo Brasil. Entre elas, estava a mutação S139N. Trata-se da substituição de […]
Os resultados foram publicados hoje (9) na revista Emerging microbes & infections, do grupo Nature. O artigo é intitulado “Zika virus replication in the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus in Brazil” e pode ser encontrado na íntegra na internet. Os mosquitos do gênero Culex foram colhidos na Região Metropolitana do Recife, já infectados. A equipe do Departamento […]
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus that has recently been associated with an increased incidence of neonatal microcephaly and other neurological disorders. The virus is primarily transmitted by mosquito bite, although other routes of infection have been implicated in some cases. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is considered to be the main vector to humans worldwide; […]
“Vemos epidemias de dengue há cerca de 30 anos e ficamos refratários a ouvir falar sobre a doença. Com o zika, realmente saímos da zona de conforto, ficou clara a importância do controle doméstico do mosquito, e acredito que houve uma reação mais forte do poder público e da esfera privada” Denise Valle Instituto Oswaldo […]
A Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG) descobriu novos compostos que podem ajudar no tratamento de pessoas com o vírus da zika. Ao todo, nove substâncias foram selecionadas para testes em células infectadas, que serão feitos em uma universidade dos Estados Unidos. O objetivo é desenvolver medicamentos para combater a doença. Leia mais
