Climate change makes West Nile virus outbreaks 'plausible' in UK
(UK Centre for Ecology& Hydrology) Climate change will make outbreaks of West Nile virus more likely in the UK within the next 20-30 years, a new study has found. A new scientific model shows the risk of the mosquito-borne pathogen spreading to the country will increase as temperatures rise. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - May 28, 2021 Category: Biology Source Type: news
Researchers create new CRISPR tools to help contain mosquito disease transmission
(University of California - San Diego) UC San Diego scientists have developed a genetics toolkit that helps pave the way to a gene drive designed to stop Culex mosquitoes from spreading disease. Much less studied than other genera, Culex mosquitoes spread devastating afflictions stemming from West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis virus and the pathogen causing avian malaria. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - May 28, 2021 Category: Biology Source Type: news
CDC: 21,869 West Nile Virus Cases Identified in U.S. in 2009 to 2018
THURSDAY, March 4, 2021 -- From 2009 to 2018, there were 21,869 confirmed or probable cases of West Nile virus (WNV) disease, 59 percent of which were neuroinvasive disease cases, according to a surveillance summary published in the March 5 issue of... (Source: Drugs.com - Pharma News)
Source: Drugs.com - Pharma News - March 4, 2021 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news
Risk maps to predict West Nile virus spread a year in advance
(University of Malaga) Knowing the environmental and human-related variables that characterize the favorable areas for the incidence of the West Nile virus, a flavivirus that is transmitted from birds to humans by mosquitoes, is essential to identify those places in Europe at high risk of experiencing outbreaks, even before these are registered, thus enabling preventive measures to be taken. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - February 24, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
Drought restrictions had side benefit: Lowering risk of mosquito-borne disease
Shallow pools of water on lawns are ideal breeding grounds for the mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus, the most common mosquito-borne disease in the United States.A new study by scientists from UCLA and three other universities found that reducing shallow pools of water where the insects lay their eggs is key to preventing the spread of the virus.The study, funded by a grant from the UC Office of the President and published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, found that California ’s water-use restrictions during the statewide drought from 2012 to 2016 led to a decrease in the number of mosquitoes ...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - February 16, 2021 Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news
Notes from the Field: An Outbreak of West Nile Virus - Arizona, 2019
This report describes an outbreak of West Nile virus in Arizona during 2019. (Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)
Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report - January 28, 2021 Category: American Health Tags: MMWR Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report Outbreaks West Nile Virus Infection Source Type: news
A broadly protective antibody that targets the flavivirus NS1 protein
There are no approved flaviviral therapies and the development of vaccines against flaviruses has the potential of being undermined by antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE). The flavivirus nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) is a promising vaccine antigen with low ADE risk but has yet to be explored as a broad-spectrum therapeutic antibody target. Here, we provide the structural basis of NS1 antibody cross-reactivity through cocrystallization of the antibody 1G5.3 with NS1 proteins from dengue and Zika viruses. The 1G5.3 antibody blocks multi-flavivirus NS1-mediated cell permeability in disease-relevant cell lines, and therapeuti...
Source: ScienceNOW - January 7, 2021 Category: Science Authors: Modhiran, N., Song, H., Liu, L., Bletchly, C., Brillault, L., Amarilla, A. A., Xu, X., Qi, J., Chai, Y., Cheung, S. T. M., Traves, R., Setoh, Y. X., Bibby, S., Scott, C. A. P., Freney, M. E., Newton, N. D., Khromykh, A. A., Chappell, K. J., Muller, D. A., Tags: Biochemistry, Microbiology reports Source Type: news
Structural basis for antibody inhibition of flavivirus NS1-triggered endothelial dysfunction
Medically important flaviviruses cause diverse disease pathologies and collectively are responsible for a major global disease burden. A contributing factor to pathogenesis is secreted flavivirus nonstructural protein 1 (NS1). Despite demonstrated protection by NS1-specific antibodies against lethal flavivirus challenge, the structural and mechanistic basis remains unknown. Here, we present three crystal structures of full-length dengue virus NS1 complexed with a flavivirus–cross-reactive, NS1-specific monoclonal antibody, 2B7, at resolutions between 2.89 and 3.96 angstroms. These structures reveal a protective mecha...
Source: ScienceNOW - January 7, 2021 Category: Science Authors: Biering, S. B., Akey, D. L., Wong, M. P., Brown, W. C., Lo, N. T. N., Puerta-Guardo, H., Tramontini Gomes de Sousa, F., Wang, C., Konwerski, J. R., Espinosa, D. A., Bockhaus, N. J., Glasner, D. R., Li, J., Blanc, S. F., Juan, E. Y., Elledge, S. J., Mina, Tags: Biochemistry, Microbiology reports Source Type: news
UMD finds more West Nile virus-infected mosquitoes in lower-income areas of Baltimore
(University of Maryland) Researchers at the University of Maryland found higher rates of West Nile virus-infected mosquitoes in lower-income neighborhoods in urban areas of Baltimore, Maryland. Continuing a collaboration with the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, this preliminary data provides another piece of the puzzle pointing to higher risk of mosquito-transmitted diseases in these neighborhoods already struggling with environmental injustices and poorer health outcomes. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - December 17, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
West Nile virus infection risk is higher in less affluent neighborhoods in Baltimore, MD
(Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies) In Baltimore, Maryland, people living in low-income urban neighborhoods are more at risk of contracting West Nile virus, a mosquito-borne disease, than people living in more affluent neighborhoods. So reports a new study published in the Journal of Medical Entomology. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - December 14, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
3 Win Nobel Medicine Prize for Discovering Hepatitis C Virus
(STOCKHOLM) — Americans Harvey J. Alter and Charles M. Rice and British-born scientist Michael Houghton won the Nobel Prize for medicine on Monday for their discovery of the hepatitis C virus, a major source of liver disease that affects millions worldwide.
Announcing the prize in Stockholm, the Nobel Committee noted that the trio’s work identified a major source of blood-borne hepatitis that couldn’t be explained by the previously discovered hepatitis A and B viruses. Their work, dating back to the 1970s and 1980s, has helped saved millions of lives, the committee said.
“Thanks to their discovery, ...
Source: TIME: Science - October 5, 2020 Category: Science Authors: DAVID KEYTON and FRANK JORDANS / AP Tags: Uncategorized News News Desk wire Source Type: news
Warming World Could Alter West Nile Transmission in U.S.
MONDAY, Sept. 28, 2020 -- Climate change could give West Nile virus a boost in some areas of the United States, but reduce its spread in other regions, a new study suggests.
The mosquito-borne virus spreads most efficiently in the United States at... (Source: Drugs.com - Daily MedNews)
Source: Drugs.com - Daily MedNews - September 28, 2020 Category: General Medicine Source Type: news
4 Middlesex Communities Categorized As High Risk For West Nile Virus
BOSTON (AP) — Four communities in Middlesex County are now considered high risk for the West Nile virus, health officials said.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced four more human cases of the West Nile virus, bringing the total number in the state this year to seven. All four people were exposed in Middlesex County, officials said.
The health department said Cambridge, Newton, Somerville and Watertown have been elevated to high risk for the mosquito-borne disease.
Concord, Lexington, Lincoln, Sudbury, Waltham, Wayland, Weston, and Winchester, which are also in Middlesex County, are now considered mod...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - September 13, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Health – CBS Boston Tags: Boston News Health Syndicated CBSN Boston Cambridge News Middlesex County Newton News Somerville News Watertown News West Nile Virus Source Type: news
NYC will spray pesticide to kill rising number of West Nile-infected mosquitoes
New York City will begin spraying pesticide to kill West Nile virus-infected mosquitos in Brooklyn and Queens on Thursday after a rise in bugs and animals with the disease, health department officials said. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Source: the Mail online | Health - September 2, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Outdoor Lunch? Cold vs. Hot Water? Dr. Mallika Marshall Answers Coronavirus Questions
BOSTON (CBS) – Dr. Mallika Marshall is answering your coronavirus-related medical questions. If you have a question for Dr. Mallika, email her or message her on Facebook or Twitter.
Dr. Mallika is offering her best advice, but as always, consult your personal doctor before making any decisions about your personal health.
My husband and I plan to be the first in line for a new coronavirus vaccine but my step-son is an anti-vaxxer. Will we have to continue to stay away from him after we are vaccinated? – Jean
We just don’t know how effective these vaccines in development will be but they probably won’t b...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - August 13, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Health – CBS Boston Tags: Boston News Health Syndicated Local Coronavirus Dr. Mallika Marshall Source Type: news
