A marked point in the fight against Zika

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Fri, 2016-04-08 07:46 — Mohamed S

Researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (National Institute of Allergy and diseases infectious, NIAID) in the United States said on March 31, 2016 that they had reached determine the structure of the virus Zika . According to the statement release issued by NIAID, "almost atomic map of Zika virus shows that its structure is substantially similar to that of dengue virus and other flaviviruses , but with a notable difference on a major surface protein" . to believe the researchers, this difference is in a region of the glycoprotein that flaviviruses can use to attach to human cells.
- See more at: http://www.scidev.net/afrique-sub-saharienne/maladie/actualites/un-point-de-marqu-dans-la-lutte-contre-le-virus-zika.html#sthash.55XWnsjV.dpuf

"Such information may be useful for designing treatments such as antiviral drugs or antibodies able to interfere with the function of the glycoprotein Zika"

NIAID, USA

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Tiger mosquito

Finally, the researchers believe that the knowledge of the structural differences between the glycoprotein Zika and the same protein in the dengue virus can be used to create diagnostic tests can help distinguish infection Zika virus infection dengue, especially in countries where both diseases coexist. the virus Zika takes its name from a Uganda forest where it was identified for the first time in 1947 before also highlighted in Gabon 2007 by researchers from the International Centre for medical Research (CIRMF) and the Institute of Research for development (IRD). According to the World Organization of health (WHO), the Zika virus is transmitted to be human by the bite of a mosquito-tiger kind Aedesdans who is also responsible for dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever. the same source added that the sexual transmission of Zika was described in two cases, and presence in sperm in an extra case. This virus that mainly found in tropical regions of the world flows in Africa, Asia, the Pacific and the Americas. an outbreak of Zika raging elsewhere for several months now in Brazil, where the disease has already infected more than a million people.

Prevention

To believe the WHO, its symptoms resemble those of other diseases "like dengue and include fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise and headache . " But," recently in Brazil, local health authorities have observed a resurgence of cases with Guillain-Barré syndrome, which coincide with cases of Zika virus infections in the general public, as well as a growing number of infants with microcephaly in the northeast of the country, "the organization. in the absence of vaccine and treatment, the fight against this disease currently consists of prevention through protection against mosquito bites. recently interviewed by SciDev.Net , the Senegalese epidemiologist Massamba Diouf stressed in this respect the need for African countries to establish vigilance. Inviting eg to submit systematically screening all passengers coming from areas infected with the disease and to continue the destruction of all breeding sites may harbor the vector. - See more at: http://www.scidev.net/afrique-sub-saharienne/maladie/actualites/un-point-de-marqu-dans-la-lutte-contre-le-virus-zika.html#sthash.55XWnsjV.dpuf

(National Institute of Allergy and diseases infectious, NIAID) in the United States said on March 31, 2016 that they had reached determine the structure of the virus Zika . According to the statement release issued by NIAID, "almost atomic map of Zika virus shows that its structure is substantially similar to that of dengue virus and other flaviviruses , but with a notable difference on a major surface protein" . to believe the researchers, this difference is in a region of the glycoprotein that flaviviruses can use to attach to human cells.

"The change in the glycoprotein Zika could explain its ability to attack the nerve cells, as well as the connection between Zika and birth defects," it said. "The change in envelope glycoproteins can Zika provide clues to better understand how the Zika virus enters human cells and suggest ways to fight against the virus with drugs or vaccines, "the press release SciDev.Net was able to consult. These advances in knowledge and the fight against this pathogen are to be credited to three researchers from NIAID; namely Theodore Pierson, Richard Kuhn and Michael Rossmann, assisted by other researchers from Purdue University in the US. According to the National Institute of Health (National Institute of Health - NIH), parent company of the NIAID, knowledge of the structure of Zika virus could provide information for the development of vaccines against this disease. "this information may also be useful for designing treatments such as antiviral drugs or antibodies capable of interfering with the function of Zika virus glycoprotein "he said.
Read more on: http://www.scidev.net/afrique-sub-saharienne/maladie/actualites/un-point-de-marqu-dans-la-lutte-contre-le-virus-zika.html

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