The Zika news in the US and South America
Millions of Zika battling genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes are ready to be released in Florida, US, after the public vote of the November US elections was in favor of starting the test-trial in the area.
For more than a year one third of the world has been highly concerned about the Zika virus outbreak and Splice has covered amazing achievements regarding Zika infection. These days it is one of the main newspaper topics because of the upcoming Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics in Brazil, the country where most of the cases of Zika infection were reported.
Zika virus has rapidly expanded during the last year in Brazil and currently the outbreaks are occurring in several countries and territories. While following preventive measures is extremely important to limit the spread, finding a reliable field diagnostic test is equally important. And it looks like we got one!
Meet Prof. Dr. Tatjana Avšič, the leading scientist behind the first proof of the association between Zika virus and microcephaly in the world.
Brazil is in a state of emergency. Since October 2015 the number of infants born with microcephaly increased more than 10 times compared to previous years. Microcephaly is a rare condition when babies are born with an unusually small head and brain injury. Health authorities believe that the condition is associated with Zika virus which is being carried by mosquitos.
Gene drives are capable of altering genomes of entire animal populations by passing down mutations through generations faster than natural inheritance. The main goal of using them is to defeat diseases, control pests and speed up lab work. Self-destructing mosquitoes and sterilized rodents are in the center of interest. However, recent advancements raise concerns about unleashing this powerful technology with no clear ecological consequences
An estimated 600,000 to 800,000 viral species could jump from animals to humans. Scientists are joining the Global Virome Project initiative in hope of identifying new potential pathogens and countering them before they become the next pandemic. This move from a reactive to a proactive approach aims to provide a safer future for all.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins University successfully modified mosquitoes to render them highly resistant to dengue virus – a disease responsible for nearly 25,000 deaths each year. Their breakthrough could lead to even more resistant mosquitoes in the future, potentially ending the war on mosquito-transmitted diseases.
The end of the year marks the time, when we take a look back at the memorable moments that make each year unique and think about what lays in store ahead. With the festivities reaching their peak, Splice would also like to review the important milestones that made 2016 a very special year.