In the laboratory, researchers have identified a variant of the Zika virus that escapes immunity and can cause an outbreak of the disease
Scientists from a study published in the journal Cell Reports made an alert: a new variant of the Zika virus could be more serious and cause an intense outbreak of the disease. AND The worrying scenario applies even to regions where part of the population has already been immunized due to other outbreakssuch as the one in 2016, in which thousands of mothers were infected and gave birth to babies with microcephaly.
“A high rate of replication in a mosquito or human host can increase transmission (infect more people) or pathogenicity (ability to make the host sick) — and cause a new outbreak.”said the study author, Jose Angel Regla-Nava. According to the researchers, health authorities should be aware of the possibility of a new mutation.
IN TESTS WITH MICE, RESEARCHERS OBSERVED WORRYING EVOLUTION OF ZIKA VIRUS MUTATION
In a test carried out with mice, the researchers have identified a variant that breaks cross-immunization by dengue infection. A mutation called NS2B I39V/I39T demonstrated a high level of danger in human cell cultures. Although the experiments are laboratory, the results of the study published on Tuesday, 12, indicate the chance of a risk to public health.
“The variant of Zika we identified had evolved to the point where the cross-protective immunity provided by previous dengue infection was no longer effective in mice. Unfortunately for us, if this variant becomes prevalent, we may have the same problems in real life.”explained Professor Jose Regla-Nava.
Source: Recreio
