An antibiotic compound effective for countering Zika discovered

Q.  Which molecule can be used as a potential drug to fight Zika?
- Published on 24 Jul 17

a. An antibiotic compound
b. An allopathic compound
c. An Ayurveda compound
d. A herbal compound

ANSWER: An antibiotic compound
 
An antibiotic compound effective for countering Zika discoveredResearchers from a southeastern Spanish university announced the discovery of a molecule that could be used as a potential drug to fight the effects of a Zika virus infection.

San Antonio Catholic University of Murcia said that scientists belonging to its Bioinformatics and High-Performance Computing research group had found that a compound previously used as an antibiotic countered the symptoms of the mosquito-borne disease.

It’s a drug that had been withdrawn from the market because it had lost its potency as an antibiotic, but we know it can be administered to humans.

The molecular structure of the proteins involved in the Zika virus’ replication process was first described only a year ago.

Zika: Know More
  • Zika virus is a member of the virus family Flaviviridae.
  • It is spread by daytime-active Aedes mosquitoes, such as A. aegypti and A. albopictus.
  • Its name comes from the Zika Forest of Uganda, where the virus was first isolated in 1947.
  • Scientific name: Zika virus
  • Higher classification: Flavivirus
  • Rank: Species
  • Did you know: Serological tests, including immunofluorescence assays and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays may indicate the presence of anti-Zika virus IgM and IgG antibodies, according to WHO.

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