Zika virus tagged posts

This image shows cell death of the human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) is mark by cleaved caspase 3 in red, the nuclei of hNPCs are labeled by DAPI in white/grey, and the ZIKA virus is labeled by ZIKA virus envelope protein in green. Credit: Sarah C. Ogden

The Zika virus infects a type of neural stem cell that gives rise to the brain’s cerebral cortex. On laboratory dishes, these stem cells were found to be havens for viral reproduction, resulting in cell death and/or disruption of cell growth. While this study does not prove the direct link between Zika and microcephaly, it does pinpoint where the virus may be doing the most damage.

The researchers from Johns Hopkins, Florida State Uni and Emory University School of Medicine, worked around the clock for a month to conduct the study, whi...

Weekly cases of suspected Zika virus infections and Guillain-Barré syndrome in French Polynesia between October, 2013, and April, 2014

Analysis of blood samples from 42 patients diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) during the Zika virus outbreak in French Polynesia provides the first evidence that Zika virus might cause GBS, a severe neurological disorder. Based on the analysis of data from French Polynesia, if 100000 people were infected with Zika virus, 24 would develop GBS.

Professor Arnaud Fontanet said: “Most of the patients with GBS reported they had experienced symptoms of Zika virus infection on average 6 days before any neurological symptoms, and all carried Zika virus antibodies.”

In between October 2013 to April 2014, French Polynesia experienced the largest Zika outbr...