Science News : reported that Getting dengue first may make Zika infection much worse

Experiments in cells and mice suggest that a previous exposure to dengue or West Nile can make a Zika virus infection worse. It facebook/" target="_blank">shares about 60 percent of its genetic information with dengue virus and West Nile virus. Most of the mice given plasma free of dengue or West Nile antibodies prior to being exposed to Zika survived. Of mice given plasma with West Nile antibodies, about 40 percent died from the Zika infection. The antibodies from the previous dengue exposure actually help the subsequent dengue virus infect cells, rather than blocking them.

Researchers uncover how Zika may be harming foetus' brain, Singapore News & Top Stories

Scientists here have, for the first time, uncovered a possible way that the Zika virus damages an unborn baby's brain. The Zika virus, spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito that also transmits dengue, wrought havoc in South America last year and infected over 450 people here. Next, the researchers will study how the inflamed microglia cells influence other cells around them. Microglia direct nerve cells to form properly to create brain structure. The mosquito-borne virus targets a type of cell responsible for brain structure, the study found.

Dengue may bring out the worst in Zika

ADE could also complicate the development of vaccines for West Nile, dengue, and Zika. Mice primed with dengue antibodies had levels of Zika virus 10 times higher than those in control animals, and a higher risk of death. "This fits nicely with the concept raised by Screaton that Zika virus in this context could be considered as a fifth serotype of dengue." But they did not see the effect when they gave monoclonal dengue antibodies to live mice and then infected them with Zika. Zika's surface protein—the primary target of antibodies—looks extremely similar to those on dengue and West Nile virus, members of the same flavivirus family.


collected by :Lucy William
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