10 simple facts about Zika virus
1. Zika is an infectious disease caused by a virus and transmitted by mosquitoes. It is one of four worrisome viral infections that have spread rapidly across the world recently including dengue, chikungunya, and West Nile virus, all of which are transmitted by mosquitoes or ticks. The most dangerous mosquito type is the one that spreads yellow fever (Aedes).
2. Though Zika is mostly spread by mosquito bites, there is emerging evidence that it may be sexually transmitted from men to women (not vice versa) as well as blood transfusions and during labor. The Zika virus can live in urine and saliva but so far there in no evid...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - February 23, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tanu S. Pandey, MD Tags: Conditions Infectious disease Source Type: blogs
TWiV 376: The flavi of the week is Zika
On episode #376 of the science show This Week in Virology, the TWiV team discusses the latest data on Zika virus, including ocular defects in infants with microcephaly, and isolation of the entire viral genome from fetal brain tissue.
You can find TWiV #376 at microbe.tv/twiv. (Source: virology blog)
Source: virology blog - February 14, 2016 Category: Virology Authors: Vincent Racaniello Tags: This Week in Virology Aedes brain congenital rubella syndrome Dengue genome Guillain-Barré microcephaly mosquito ocular defects TORCH viral virus viruses West Nile virus Zika zika virus Source Type: blogs
Zika virus and microcephaly
Three reports have been published that together make a compelling case that Zika virus is causing microcephaly in Brazil.
An epidemic of Zika virus infection began in Brazil in April 2015, and by the end of the year the virus had spread through 19 provinces, many in the northeastern part of the country. Six months after the start of the outbreak, there was a surge in the number of infants born with microcephaly. It was not known if most of the mothers had been infected with Zika virus, as results of serological tests, virus isolation, or PCR were not available.
An initial report of 35 Brazilian infants with microcephaly...
Source: virology blog - February 11, 2016 Category: Virology Authors: Vincent Racaniello Tags: Basic virology Information flavivirus microcephaly mosquito next generation sequencing placenta pregnancy viral viruses Zika Source Type: blogs
TWiV 375: Zika and you will find
On episode #375 of the science show This Week in Virology, the TWiVziks present everything you want to know about Zika virus, including association of infection with microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome, transmission, epidemiology, and much more.
You can find TWiV #375 at microbe.tv/twiv. (Source: virology blog)
Source: virology blog - February 7, 2016 Category: Virology Authors: Vincent Racaniello Tags: This Week in Virology Aedes antiviral Brazil Dengue flavivirus GBS Guillain-Barré syndrome microcephaly mosquito vaccine viruses West Nile virus yellow fever virus Zika zika virus Source Type: blogs
Zika virus
The rapid spread of Zika virus through the Americas, together with the association of infection with microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome, have propelled this previously ignored virus into the limelight. What is this virus and where did it come from?
History
Zika virus was first identified in 1947 in a sentinel monkey that was being used to monitor for the presence of yellow fever virus in the Zika Forest of Uganda. At this time cell lines were not available for studying viruses, so serum from the febrile monkey was inoculated intracerebrally into mice. All the mice became sick, and the virus isolated from their bra...
Source: virology blog - January 28, 2016 Category: Virology Authors: Vincent Racaniello Tags: Basic virology Information Brazil congenital defect Dengue flavivirus Guillain-Barré microcephaly mosquito vaccine viral viruses yellow fever virus Zika zika virus Source Type: blogs
Arthropod-borne Viruses of Senegal
A recent outbreak of suspected viral infection in Kedougou Region (http://www.promedmail.org/direct.php?id=3626668) highlights the complexity of establishing a specific etiological agent in West Africa. At least twenty arthropod-borne viruses are associated with known or suspected human infection in Senegal. The following alphabetical list is abstracted from Gideon www.GideonOnline.com and the Gideon e-book series [1] (Primary references are available from Dr. Berger on request)
Bagaza – Bagaza virus has been recovered from mosquitoes in Senegal (Aedes fowleri, Culex neavei, Cx. Poicilipes and Mansonia, Mimomyia ...
Source: GIDEON blog - September 6, 2015 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Dr. Stephen Berger Tags: Ebooks Epidemiology Outbreaks ProMED Senegal Source Type: blogs
TWiV 345: How a vaccine got the nod
On episode #345 of the science show This Week in Virology, the TWiVonauts review how the weather affects West Nile virus disease in the US, benefit of B cell depletion for ME/CFS patients, and an autoimmune reaction induced by influenza virus vaccine that leads to narcolepsy.
You can find TWiV #345 at www.twiv.tv. (Source: virology blog)
Source: virology blog - July 12, 2015 Category: Virology Authors: Vincent Racaniello Tags: This Week in Virology antibody autoimmunity B cell chronic fatigue syndrome hypocretin influenza vaccine influenza virus mecfs meterological conditions myalgic encephalitis narcolepsy pandemrix rituximab viral weather West Source Type: blogs
TWiV 339: Herpes and the sashimi plot
On episode #339 of the science show This Week in Virology, tre TWiV amici present three snippets and a side of sashimi: how herpesvirus inhibits host cell gene expression by disrupting transcription termination.
You can find TWiV #339 at www.twiv.tv. (Source: virology blog)
Source: virology blog - May 31, 2015 Category: Virology Authors: Vincent Racaniello Tags: Uncategorized cancer Chikungunya virus exon herpesvirus host shutoff intron IRF7 Lassa fever mosquitoes splicing transcription termination translation viral virology West Nile virus Source Type: blogs
Sushi protects mosquitoes from lethal virus infections
As far as I know, mosquitoes do not eat sushi. But mosquito cells have proteins with sushi repeat domains, and these proteins protect the brain from lethal virus infections.
Mosquitoes are vectors for the transmission of many human viral diseases, including yellow fever, West Nile disease, Japanese encephalitis, and dengue hemorrhagic fever. Many mosquito-borne viruses enter the human central nervous system and cause neurological disease. In contrast, these viruses replicate in many tissues of the mosquito, including the central nervous system, with little pathological effect and no alteration of behavior or lifespan. ...
Source: virology blog - May 22, 2015 Category: Virology Authors: Vincent Racaniello Tags: Basic virology Information arbovirus complement control protein domain dengue virus encephalitis flavivirus Japanese encephalitis virus mosquito persistence sushi domain viral West Nile virus yellow fever virus Source Type: blogs
Algal virus associated with altered human cognitive functions
Many well-known human viruses, including poliovirus, rabies virus, West Nile virus, can infect cells of the nervous system, leading to alterations in the function of that organ. Could a virus that infects algae also cause human neurological alterations?
Chloroviruses are large DNA-containing viruses that infect unicellular algae called zoochlorellae (pictured: image credit, ViralZone). Unexpectedly, chlorovirus DNA sequences were found in the oropharynx of 40 of 92 individuals (43.5%) who had no known physical or psychiatric illness. The clinical specimens had been obtained as part of a study of cognitive function, and it ...
Source: virology blog - November 13, 2014 Category: Virology Authors: Vincent Racaniello Tags: Basic virology Information algae chlorovirus cognitive function DNA oropharynx Phycodnaviridae viral virome Source Type: blogs
Blocking Mosquitoes and Ticks
Five bug repellents scored high marks for preventing bites, but three common choices didn’t make the grade in 2014 testing by Consumer Reports. As a parent and pediatrician, I want a mosquito and tick repellent that is safe, effective, and easy to use. It also helps if it doesn’t smell like bug spray.
Why Is Blocking Mosquitoes and Ticks Important?
Insect and arachnid bites aren’t just annoying; they are also the cause of hundreds of West Nile virus infections, about 1500 cases of malaria, and about 35,000 cases of Lyme disease diagnosed in the US each year – not to mention the million people who die from malaria...
Source: Conversations with Dr Greene - September 19, 2014 Category: Child Development Authors: Dr. Alan Greene Tags: Dr. Greene's Blog Diseases & Conditions Insect Bites & Stings Insects & Animals Liver Outdoor Fun Safety Toxins Source Type: blogs
TWiV 293: Virology Down Under
On episode #293 of the science show This Week in Virology, Vincent visits Melbourne, Australia and speaks with Melissa, Alex, Gilda, and Paul about their work on HIV infection of the central nervous system, West Nile virus, microbicides for HIV, and the Koala retrovirus.
You can find TWiV #293 at www.twiv.tv. (Source: virology blog)
Source: virology blog - July 18, 2014 Category: Virology Authors: Vincent Racaniello Tags: This Week in Virology AIDS australia encephalitis HIV koala retrovirus Melbourne microbicide neuropathogenesis reverse transcriptase transcription viral West Nile virus Source Type: blogs
Notifiable diseases in the US for 2011
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released a summary of notifiable diseases in the US for the year 2011. These statistics are collected and compiled from reports sent by state health departments and territories to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS).
According to the CDC, a notifiable disease is one for which regular, frequent, and timely information regarding individual cases is considered necessary for the prevention and control of the disease. The list of nationally notifiable infectious diseases is dynamic, as new diseases are added and others deleted as incidence declines...
Source: virology blog - July 9, 2013 Category: Virology Authors: Vincent Racaniello Tags: Information CDC centers for disease control notifiable disease viral virology virus Source Type: blogs
West Nile virus 2013 as of July 2nd
Last year was a big year for us in Texas with West Nile, an in conversation with colleagues the other day we noted we hadn’t seen any yet.
So, to the CDC Map of cases:
Wow, Texas is dark green as are several other states! Must be an epidemic, right?
Not so much:
Two cases made Texas look like ground zero. (This isn’t to make light of the CDC, it’s to point out that maps by state aren’t necessarily as descriptive as they look).
And, I and mine got ambushed by mosquitoes today, so wear the right clothing/DEET, etc. Or the map you change might represent you!
Source: CDC West Nile virus
Related posts...
Source: GruntDoc - July 8, 2013 Category: Emergency Medicine Doctors Authors: GruntDoc Tags: Amusements Medical Source Type: blogs
