IBM Designs Macromolecule 'Like Honey' To Prevent Viral Infections, Like Zika And Ebola, From Spreading

The Zika virus, Ebola, and dengue fever often elude vaccines with their shape-shifting abilities. Strains of these viral infections rapidly mutate, so they're not only resistant to treatment but also difficult to prevent from spreading in the first place. But team of researchers from IBM and the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology in Singapore may have figured out how to finally make some headway toward finding a cure. Their study, published in the journal Macromolecules, reveals it's possible to treat viruses in a unique, alternative way – from the outside in.

"Viral diseases continue to be one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality," said the study’s lead author Dr. Yi Yan Yang, a group leader at IBN. "We have created an anti-viral macromolecule that can tackle viruses by blocking the virus from infecting the cells, regardless of mutations. It is not toxic to healthy cells and is safe for use. This promising research advance represents years of hard work and collaboration with a global community of researchers."

published - May 15, 2016 02:53 PM By Samantha Olson

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