scholarly journals Advances in Diagnostic Methods for Zika Virus Infection

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos A. Herrada ◽  
Md. Alamgir Kabir ◽  
Rommel Altamirano ◽  
Waseem Asghar
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Genome Structure ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Localized Surface Plasmon ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Health Organization

The Zika virus (ZIKV) is one of the most infamous mosquito-borne flavivirus on recent memory due to its potential association with high mortality rates in fetuses, microcephaly and neurological impairments in neonates, and autoimmune disorders. The severity of the disease, as well as its fast spread over several continents, has urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare ZIKV a global health concern. In consequence, over the past couple of years, there has been a significant effort for the development of ZIKV diagnostic methods, vaccine development, and prevention strategies. This review focuses on the most recent aspects of ZIKV research which includes the outbreaks, genome structure, multiplication and propagation of the virus, and more importantly, the development of serological and molecular detection tools such as Zika IgM antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Zika MAC-ELISA), plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT), reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), reverse transcription-loop mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP), localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) biosensors, nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA), and recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA). Additionally, we discuss the limitations of currently available diagnostic methods, the potential of newly developed sensing technologies, and also provide insight into future areas of research.

scholarly journals Zika Virus Epidemiology in Selected West African Countries between 2007 and 2012

Proceedings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 100
Author(s):  
Serena Marchi ◽  
Simonetta Viviani ◽  
Emanuele Montomoli ◽  
Yuxiao Tang ◽  
Adele Boccuto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zika Virus ◽  
West African ◽  
The Gambia ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
World Health ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Health Organization

Before its recent spread, serological investigations conducted between the 1960s and the 1990s showed the wide presence of Zika virus in Africa. According to the World Health Organization, the entire Africa continent is at risk of Zika outbreak due to the presence of the virus, competent vectors, and the low capacity for surveillance and containment of an epidemic. However, limited data are available on the recent prevalence in the African population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunity against Zika virus in samples of a selected cohort from West Africa, in order to investigate the circulation of the virus in the region during the first years of its emergence in the Pacific. Human serum samples were collected in 2007 and between 2011 and 2012 from a cohort of subjects from Mali, Senegal, and The Gambia. The samples were tested using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detection kit and positives were further confirmed by microneutralization test. The results indicate that Zika virus is present and actively circulating in Senegal and The Gambia, with prevalence values of 13.7% and 6.9% in 2012, respectively. Although no significant differences in prevalence were found for the considered time period, seroconversion of some subjects showed the active circulation of Zika virus in the West African area. Analysis by age showed an increase in immunity in relation to increasing age, demonstrating that the population is consistently exposed to the virus throughout life and with a high possibility of being infected during reproductive age. In conclusion, the obtained results allow for better knowledge of the circulation of Zika virus within three different ecological and demographic contexts, and represent an update to the limited data currently available.

Current Breakthroughs in Structure-based Design of Synthetic and Natural Sourced Inhibitors Against Zika Viral Targets

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (20) ◽  
pp. 1792-1803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sisir Nandi ◽  
Ramandeep Kaur ◽  
Mohit Kumar ◽  
Ankita Sharma ◽  
Aaliya Naaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zika Virus ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Mosquito Vector ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Structure Based Drug Design ◽  
X Ray ◽  
X Ray Crystallography ◽  
Highly Active ◽  
Health Organization

Background: Zika is a worldwide pandemic dreadful viral transmission through Aedes mosquito vector. It significantly causes fever, joint pain or rash, and conjunctivitis. Pregnant mothers suffering from Zika viral infection may have fetal abnormalities due to severe neurological problems, characterized by microcephaly along with Guillain-Barré syndrome, issuing ZIKV a major public health concern as declared by the World Health Organization. There is hardly any FDA approved anti-Zika viral drugs available. Objective: Therefore, it is a big panic for the scientists to destroy the virus completely by generating potent inhibitors. Methods: For the purpose, various Zika viral targets were explored by structure-based design in the present review in connection with the discovery of various synthetic and natural sourced inhibitors against Zika virus. Results: The structure-based drug design tools such as x-ray crystallography and molecular docking reported various co-crystallized ligands and Zika virus inhibitors. Conclusion: Such inhibitors could further be modified for the design of highly active leads to combat Zika virus utilizing chemoinformatics modules.

scholarly journals Malaria elimination: needs assessment and priorities for the future

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 769-780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amal El-Moamly
Keyword(s):  
Malaria Elimination ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Global Strategy ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
World Health ◽  
Control Procedures ◽  
Global Eradication ◽  
Health Organization

When the World Health Organization announced the goal of global eradication of malaria in 2007, questions were raised about the naivety of this proposition. Since then, experts have been divided about this goal. Some scientists suggest that when defeating malaria, elimination is a worthy and challenging aim, but this has to be done with modesty and thorough analysis. Others believe that it is time to repeat the experience of smallpox eradication and to open a whole new era for public health, the eradication of many diseases. The opposing view suggests that raising expectations and failing again may set malaria control back, rather than advance its cause. This literature review focuses on malaria elimination. It summarizes the history of malaria elimination, its success factors and reasons for failure, and the controversial issues in malaria elimination. The collected articles on the challenges of elimination, and the technical and financial feasibility that countries must appreciate before proceeding, are identified. Also, this review discusses the current global strategy to eliminate malaria and highlights the main concerns for future plans aimed at elimination. These plans foresee improving currently available diagnostic methods, therapeutic and prophylactic agents and protocols, vector control procedures, vaccine development progress, and other operational tools and approaches. Finally, this review addresses a number of research priorities in the present stage of the fight against malaria.

Therapeutic Applications of Peptides against Zika Virus: A Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (23) ◽  
pp. 3906-3923
Author(s):  
Preeti Karwal ◽  
Ishwar Dutt Vats ◽  
Niharika Sinha ◽  
Anchal Singhal ◽  
Teena Sehgal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zika Virus ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Safety Concern ◽  
Human Life ◽  
World Health ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Therapeutic Molecules ◽  
Congenital Microcephaly ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Ns3 Protease

Zika Virus (ZIKV) belongs to the class of flavivirus that can be transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. The number of Zika virus caused cases of acute infections, neurological disorders and congenital microcephaly are rapidly growing and therefore, in 2016, the World Health Organization declared a global “Public Health Emergency of International Concern”. Anti-ZIKV therapeutic and vaccine development strategies are growing worldwide in recent years, however, no specific and safe treatment is available till date to save the human life. Currently, development of peptide therapeutics against ZIKV has attracted rising attention on account of their high safety concern and low development cost, in comparison to small therapeutic molecules and antibody-based anti-viral drugs. In present review, an overview of ZIKV inhibition by peptide-based inhibitors including E-protein derived peptides, antimicrobial peptides, frog skin peptides and probiotic peptides has been discussed. Peptides inhibitors have also been reported to act against NS5, NS2B-NS3 protease and proteasome in order to inhibit ZIKV infection. Recent advances in peptide-based therapeutics and vaccine have been reviewed and their future promise against ZIKV infections has been explored.

scholarly journals Zika virus reservoirs: Implications for transmission, future outbreaks, drug and vaccine development

F1000Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 1850 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raj Kalkeri ◽  
Krishna K. Murthy
Keyword(s):  
Zika Virus ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Sexual Transmission ◽  
World Health ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Virus Shedding ◽  
Regulatory Guidelines ◽  
Health Organization

Zika virus (ZIKV) was recently declared as a ‘Global Health Emergency’ by the World Health Organization. Various tissue reservoirs of ZIKV in infected humans and animals models have been observed, the implications of which are not known. Compared to other Flaviviruses, sexual transmission and persistence in the genitourinary tract seem to be unique to ZIKV. ZIKV persistence and shedding in bodily secretions (e.g. saliva, semen) is a concern for potential disease spread and could pose challenges in diagnosis, regulatory guidelines and drug/vaccine development. Murine and non-human primate models could be useful to study the role of tissue reservoirs in the development of prophylactic or therapeutic strategies. There is a need for meta-analysis of the ZIKV infection and virus shedding data from infected patients and ZIKV animal models, and additional research is needed to fully comprehend the long term implications of tissue reservoirs on ZIKV disease pathogenesis and biology.

scholarly journals Real-time Reverse Transcription PCR-based SARS-CoV-2 Detection in Khwaja Yunus Ali Medical College Hospital, Enayetpur, Sirajganj, Bangladesh

KYAMC Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-65
Author(s):  
Md Arifur Rahman ◽  
Sabera Sultana ◽  
Mosammad Alpana Jahan ◽  
Shamsun Nahar ◽  
Md Abdullah Akhtar Ahmed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
College Hospital ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Medical College ◽  
Reverse Transcription Pcr ◽  
Laboratory Services ◽  
Health Organization

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic declared on 11 March 2020 by World Health Organization (WHO). It is a highly pathogenic viral infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 which has caused global health concern. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 infection has triggered a global need for accurate diagnostic assays. Detection of viral RNA in clinical specimens is the hallmark of diagnosis. Objectives: The aim of present study was to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in some districts of North Bengal area of Bangladesh according to age, sex and area distribution. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional descriptive study was carried out in the Department of Laboratory Services, KYAMCH, Enayetpur, Sirajganj, Bangladesh. Real-Time reverse transcription Polymerase chain reaction assay was used for detection of virus. Results: A total of 1760 cases in the month from March to May 2021 were tested, among which 310 (17.6%) cases were detected positive for SARS-CoV-2. Out of 310 positive cases 211 (68.06%) were male and 99 (31.94%) were female. Maximum positive cases were from Sirajganj followed by Pabna, Natore, Naogaon, Bogura, Gaibandha districts and some parts of Rajshahi district respectively. Conclusion: This is the first study for genetic detection of SARS-CoV-2 done in KYAMCH, Enayetpur, Sirajganj. Strategies of using rRT-PCR for detection of SARS-CoV-2 may facilitate early and confirmatory diagnosis of COVID-19 KYAMC Journal.2021;12(02): 59-65

scholarly journals Mapping global environmental suitability for Zika virus

eLife ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane P Messina ◽  
Moritz UG Kraemer ◽  
Oliver J Brady ◽  
David M Pigott ◽  
Freya M Shearer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Species Distribution Modelling ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
Environmental Suitability ◽  
Global Environmental ◽  
Large Outbreak ◽  
Health Organization

Zika virus was discovered in Uganda in 1947 and is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, which also act as vectors for dengue and chikungunya viruses throughout much of the tropical world. In 2007, an outbreak in the Federated States of Micronesia sparked public health concern. In 2013, the virus began to spread across other parts of Oceania and in 2015, a large outbreak in Latin America began in Brazil. Possible associations with microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome observed in this outbreak have raised concerns about continued global spread of Zika virus, prompting its declaration as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization. We conducted species distribution modelling to map environmental suitability for Zika. We show a large portion of tropical and sub-tropical regions globally have suitable environmental conditions with over 2.17 billion people inhabiting these areas.

Aftermath of Covid -19 Pandemic in the community

2021 ◽  
pp. 498-500
Author(s):  
Sholly. CK
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Antiviral Treatment ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Severe Illness ◽  
Respiratory Illnesses ◽  
The World ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Respiratory Droplets

Novel corona virus (COVID-19) is an infectious condition, which can be spread directly or indirectly from one person to another and causes respiratory illnesses, range from common cold to acute respiratory syndrome. The first cases of this virus were found in Wuhan, China. According to the World Health Organization, COVID-19 is serious health concern and has higher risk for severe illness and spreading rapidly all over the world.This novel coronavirus was named Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) by WHO in February 2020. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the coronavirus disease 2019 a pandemic, in the year2020 March. A global coordinated effort is needed to stop the further spread of the virus. Among all cases about 92% of the confirmed cases were recorded from China. Initial reports suggest that death rate ranges from 1% to 2% which varies in the study and country. The most of the death have occurred in patients over 50 years of age followed by young children. For the confirmed cases which included both laboratory and clinically diagnosed till now there is no specific antiviral treatment recommended but there is vaccine currently available. Once the virus develops in people, corona viruses can be spread from person to person through respiratory droplets. The viral material hangs out in these droplets and can be breathed into the respiratory tract, where the virus can then lead to an infection. Repercussions of Covid -19 on individuals, families and on front line warriors are countless1.

scholarly journals The 2016 Vaccine Development Pipeline: A special issue from the World Health Organization Product Development for Vaccine Advisory Committee (PDVAC)

Vaccine ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (26) ◽  
pp. 2863-2864 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birgitte K. Giersing ◽  
Kayvon Modjarrad ◽  
David C. Kaslow ◽  
Jean-Marie Okwo-Bele ◽  
Vasee S. Moorthy
Keyword(s):  
Product Development ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Advisory Committee ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
World Health ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
The World ◽  
Development Pipeline ◽  
Health Organization

scholarly journals Global Governance of Anti-microbial Resistance: A Legal and Regulatory Toolkit

2020 ◽  
pp. 401-420
Author(s):  
Calvin W. L. Ho ◽  
Tsung-Ling Lee
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
System Approach ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Agricultural Industry ◽  
Treatment And Prevention ◽  
Global Action ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Recognizing that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a serious threat to global public health, the World Health Organization (WHO) has adopted a Global Action Plan (GAP) at the May 2015 World Health Assembly. Underscoring that systematic misuse and overuse of drugs in human medicine and food production is a global public health concern, the GAP-AMR urges concerted efforts across governments and private sectors, including pharmaceutical industry, medical professionals, agricultural industry, among others. The GAP has a threefold aim: (1) to ensure a continuous use of effective and safe medicines for treatment and prevention of infectious diseases; (2) to encourage a responsible use of medicines; and (3) to engage countries to develop their national actions on AMR in keeping with the recommendations. While the GAP is a necessary step to enable multilateral actions, it must be supported by effective governance in order to realize the proposed aims. This chapter has a threefold purpose: (1) To identify regulatory principles embedded in key WHO documents relating to AMR and the GAP-AMR; (2) To consider the legal and regulatory actions or interventions that countries could use to strengthen their regulatory lever for AMR containment; and (3) To highlight the crucial role of the regulatory lever in enabling other levers under a whole-of-system approach. Effective AMR containment requires a clearer understanding of how the regulatory lever could be implemented or enabled within health systems, as well as how it underscores and interacts with other levers within a whole-of-system approach.

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