Zika Virus May Respond to Antiviral Medication

Katia L’Ecuyer

BIOL 1610, Section 009

Dr. Michaela A. Gazdik Stofer

January 16^th 2017

As a midwife with over ten years of experience caring for women and their families, I have witnessed the devastation families are subjected to, when they get the news that they are expecting a baby with a congenital malformation or a genetic disorder. Of course, we all wish we had a magic potion that made all diseases go away, especially when they are affecting innocent little ones. Therefore, it should come to no surprise that a recent research revealing a potentially effective medication for the Zika virus, and a greater understanding of how the virus may be causing microcephaly, is of utmost interest to me.

On August 24^th 2016, a team of Yale scientist published an article in the journal Cell Reports explaining how the Zika virus interferes with the production of fetal brain cells. The virus diverts a form of the protein TBK1, which has for primary function to organize cell division to the mitochondria, hence preventing neural stem cell division and resulting in microcephaly.

Researchers are optimistic that the Zika virus might respond to antiviral medication. Sofosbuvir is already approved by the FDA to treat Hepatitis B and C, and laboratory results suggest the medication may be effective to prevent the Zika virus from infecting neural stem cells, therefore enabling the protein TBK1 to function properly. According to Yale’s scientists, more research is required to demonstrate the efficacy of the medication before treatment can be implemented.     

It’s worth noting that Zika is not the only viral infection to cause congenital microcephaly. By gaining a greater understanding of how it interacts with neural stem cells, and how it may be counteracted; we may also shed the light on other common congenital viral infection, like cytomegalovirus and rubella, which are also known to cause congenital microcephaly.

Source: http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2016/08/24/yale_team_discovers_how_zika_virus_causes_fetal_brain_damage.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+biologynews%2Fheadlines+%28Biology+News+Net%29