One year into the Zika outbreak: how an obscure disease became a global health emergency
Testing for Zika is technically challenging as the virus cross-reacts immunologically with dengue and chikungunya viruses, both present in Brazil at that time.
WHO | One year into the Zika outbreak: how an obscure disease became a global health emergency
Structures of the Zika Virus Envelope Protein and Its Complex with a Flavivirus Broadly Protective Antibody
Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus, is a current global public health concern. The flavivirus envelope (E) glycoprotein is responsible for virus entry and represents a major target of neutralizing antibodies for other flaviviruses. Here, we report the structures of ZIKV E protein at 2.0 Å and in complex with a flavivirus broadly neutralizing murine antibody 2A10G6 at 3.0 Å. ZIKV-E resembles all the known flavivirus E structures but contains a unique, positively charged patch adjacent to the fusion loop region of the juxtaposed monomer, which may influence host attachment. The ZIKV-E-2A10G6 complex structure reveals antibody recognition of a highly conserved fusion loop. 2A10G6 binds to ZIKV-E with high affinity in vitro and neutralizes currently circulating ZIKV strains in vitro and in mice. The E protein fusion loop epitope represents a potential candidate for therapeutic antibodies against ZIKV.
May 3, 2016
Structures of the Zika Virus Envelope Protein and Its Complex with a Flavivirus Broadly Protective Antibody
Chloroquine inhibits Zika Virus infection in different cellular models
Here we show that chloroquine exhibits antiviral activity against ZIKV in VERO, human brain microvascular endothelial, and neural stem cells. We demonstrated in vitro that chloroquine reduces the number of ZIKV-infected cells, virus production and cell death promoted by ZIKV infection without cytotoxic effects. Our results suggest that chloroquine is a promising candidate for ZIKV clinical trials, since it is already approved for clinical use and can be safely administered to pregnant woman.
The Lancet Zika virus resource centre
The Lancet Zika virus resource centre brings together the best evidence from across The Lancet family of journals—offered with free access—to assist researchers, policy makers, and health workers, in understanding the effects of the outbreak and how best to respond. Find out more about Zika virus in this Special Report.
May 1, 2016
Zika Virus Response Updates from FDA
There are no FDA-approved vaccines for Zika virus, nor is the FDA aware of vaccines or treatments in advanced development for Zika at this time. FDA stands ready to work with medical product developers to clarify regulatory and data requirements necessary to move products forward in development as quickly as possible.
Prevention to Zika virus
What we know
No vaccine exists to prevent Zika virus disease (Zika).
Prevent Zika by avoiding mosquito bites (see below).
Mosquitoes that spread Zika virus bite mostly during the daytime.
Mosquitoes that spread Zika virus also spread dengue and chikungunya viruses.
Prevent sexual transmission of Zika by using condoms or not having sex
April 28, 2016
Prevention | Zika virus | CDC
No vaccine exists…Prevent Zika by avoiding mosquito bites…
First detection of Zika virus in neotropical primates in Brazil: a possible new reservoir
This is the first report on ZIKV detection among Neotropical primates, which stands as a caveat for the possibility that they could act as reservoirs, similar to the sylvatic cycle of yellow fever in Brazil.
