Flaviviruses
infect hundreds of millions around the world each year. Though they’ve
taken their toll throughout human history, the latest threat is posed by
the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which can cause severe birth defects. No
antiviral treatments yet exist – and some countries have recommended
putting off pregnancies to avoid the threat.
A team of scientists now say they may have found a drug target, using gene editing on healthy human cells.
The CRISPR technique was used to test nine genes that form a vital pathway for viruses such as Zika, West Niloe, Dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis and hepatitis C.
One of those genes proved to be a good barrier to keep the viruses from spreading – and also appeared to be safe to the human cells, the team from the University of Washington School of Medicine in St. Louis report in the latest issue of the journal Nature.
The gene is known as SPCS1. It appeared to stop West Nile and the other viruses including Zika in their tracks – but without side effects on the human cells.
“Flaviviruses appear to be uniquely dependent on this particular gene to release the viral particle,” said Michael S. Diamond, the senior author of the study, in a school statement. “In these viruses, this gene sets off a domino effect that is required to assembly and release the viral particle. Without it, the chain reaction doesn’t happen and the virus can’t spread.”
The scientists believe a drug could hone in on the gene, and shut down the viruses’ pathway, without adversely affecting the patient.
“So we are interested in this gene as a potential drug target because it disrupts the virus and does not disrupt the host,” concludes Diamond.
READ MORE: Zika Virus Linked to Adult Brain Disorder
However, the gene only shut down flaviviral pathways. The impact was minimal for the families of alphavirus, bunyavirus, rhabdovirus or other germs.
The Zika virus — spread mainly by a tropical mosquito — has been spreading through Latin America for several years. For most adults it causes only a mild illness, at worst. But infection during pregnancy can cause fetal deaths and potentially devastating birth defects, such as microcephaly.
The CDC announced last Friday that Puerto Rico is part of the Zika epidemic. The U.S. territory already has more than 1,700 cases, including 191 in pregnant women. Last month, Puerto Rican health officials reported their first case of Zika-linked microcephaly – and they are projecting potentially hundreds of cases of the devastating birth defect.
A team of scientists now say they may have found a drug target, using gene editing on healthy human cells.
The CRISPR technique was used to test nine genes that form a vital pathway for viruses such as Zika, West Niloe, Dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis and hepatitis C.
One of those genes proved to be a good barrier to keep the viruses from spreading – and also appeared to be safe to the human cells, the team from the University of Washington School of Medicine in St. Louis report in the latest issue of the journal Nature.
The gene is known as SPCS1. It appeared to stop West Nile and the other viruses including Zika in their tracks – but without side effects on the human cells.
“Flaviviruses appear to be uniquely dependent on this particular gene to release the viral particle,” said Michael S. Diamond, the senior author of the study, in a school statement. “In these viruses, this gene sets off a domino effect that is required to assembly and release the viral particle. Without it, the chain reaction doesn’t happen and the virus can’t spread.”
The scientists believe a drug could hone in on the gene, and shut down the viruses’ pathway, without adversely affecting the patient.
“So we are interested in this gene as a potential drug target because it disrupts the virus and does not disrupt the host,” concludes Diamond.
READ MORE: Zika Virus Linked to Adult Brain Disorder
However, the gene only shut down flaviviral pathways. The impact was minimal for the families of alphavirus, bunyavirus, rhabdovirus or other germs.
The Zika virus — spread mainly by a tropical mosquito — has been spreading through Latin America for several years. For most adults it causes only a mild illness, at worst. But infection during pregnancy can cause fetal deaths and potentially devastating birth defects, such as microcephaly.
The CDC announced last Friday that Puerto Rico is part of the Zika epidemic. The U.S. territory already has more than 1,700 cases, including 191 in pregnant women. Last month, Puerto Rican health officials reported their first case of Zika-linked microcephaly – and they are projecting potentially hundreds of cases of the devastating birth defect.
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