Researchers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Washington University School of Medicine may have found an antibody that can treat the Zika Virus called ZIKV-117.
They explained that in the past 15 years they have been developing ways on isolating human monoclonal antibodies. This enables them to identify neutralizing antibodies of viral infections like Ebola and HIV.
Fox News reported that the antibody discovered by the researchers were able to protect the fetus of the pregnant mice. They reported that this could help develop an anti-Zika vaccine.
Researcher James Crowe explained that ZIKV-117 is natural occurring antibody and reduces the infection from the virus. It can be the first medical intervention that can avoid damage on the baby of infected mothers.
Science Daily reported that they also isolated antibodies from the blood who was infected of the virus. They explained that the antibodies reacted on the protein on the virus' surface.
They said that researchers were able to generate monoclonal antibodies. The researchers identified ZIKV-117 as the antibody that has an ability to neutralize different Zika virus strain.
Crowe explained that he and his colleagues are excited with their findings. Their data suggested that they might have a solid antibody treatment for the virus.
Zika Virus has plagued Brazil where there were 4,000 cases of microcrephaly, where a child was born with a small head and brain. Microcephally is the most common symptom of the virus.
Previous report once warned that public that this virus can spread on the Olympics last August, where Brazil was host of the show. They estimated that around 4 million people might be at risk on the Olympic event.
Zika is a mosquito-borne virus that emerged in 2015 in Brazil. It is associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a neurological disorder that leads to paralysis and has been reported in Africa, Asia and America.
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