tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
A certain bacterium known as Wolbachia may be incredibly useful in building a new line of defense against the spread of Zika virus, according to a new study published in Cell Host & Microbe. Though Wolbachia has been studied in the past as an effective control agent for dengue virus and even malaria, this is the first time that scientists have found it might play a role in stopping Zika virus replication in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
In 2005, researchers first discovered that Wolbachia bacteria could fight mosquito-borne infections by significantly curbing the mosquitos? transmission of viruses like dengue and chikungunya. Mosquitoes infected with the bacteria can?t replicate these viruses, and are thus unable to transmit it to other mosquitoes or humans. Historically, scientists have used this method as a way to prevent transmission of dengue virus, which lies in the same viral family as Zika.
The only issue, however, lies in the fact that Wolbachia don?t naturally infect A. aegypti mosquitoes. The trick has always been to inject A. aegypti mosquitoes with Wolbachia in the lab, then release them into the wild, hoping they?ll mate with others and spread this dengue ?immunity.?
http://www.medicaldaily.com/wolbachia-bacteria-zika-virus-spread-aedes-mosquito-384627
In 2005, researchers first discovered that Wolbachia bacteria could fight mosquito-borne infections by significantly curbing the mosquitos? transmission of viruses like dengue and chikungunya. Mosquitoes infected with the bacteria can?t replicate these viruses, and are thus unable to transmit it to other mosquitoes or humans. Historically, scientists have used this method as a way to prevent transmission of dengue virus, which lies in the same viral family as Zika.
The only issue, however, lies in the fact that Wolbachia don?t naturally infect A. aegypti mosquitoes. The trick has always been to inject A. aegypti mosquitoes with Wolbachia in the lab, then release them into the wild, hoping they?ll mate with others and spread this dengue ?immunity.?
http://www.medicaldaily.com/wolbachia-bacteria-zika-virus-spread-aedes-mosquito-384627