tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Eight weeks after receiving their first samples of Zika virus, scientists at the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) have shown that a very small protein we all have in our bodies, interferon-induced protein 3 (IFITM3), can dramatically reduce the ability of Zika virus to infect human and mouse cells. In some cases, IFITM3 can also prevent Zika virus from killing our cells. The findings, by senior author Abraham Brass, MD, PhD, assistant professor of microbiology & physiological systems, suggest that boosting the actions of IFITM3 may be useful for inhibiting Zika virus and other emerging viral infections. The study appears in the journal Cell Reports.
"This work represents the first look at how our cells defend themselves against Zika virus' attack," said Dr. Brass. "Our results show that Zika virus has a weakness that we could potentially exploit to prevent or stop infection."
http://www.news-medical.net/news/20...a-virus-from-infecting-human-mouse-cells.aspx
"This work represents the first look at how our cells defend themselves against Zika virus' attack," said Dr. Brass. "Our results show that Zika virus has a weakness that we could potentially exploit to prevent or stop infection."
http://www.news-medical.net/news/20...a-virus-from-infecting-human-mouse-cells.aspx