Anti-malarial drugs as possible Zika transmission remedy

Zika virus, a Flavivirus, has been a subject of intense research over the past 4 years; it seems a constant stream of knowledge flows about new discoveries from research regarding Zika. From the discovery of its association with microcephaly and Guillan-Barre to its discovery in semen, eye fluids, and immunoprotected sites, this virus has been a constant wonder with many secrets to uncover. Similarly, it's been a matter of intense investigation for health and medical reasons as we attempt to find a vaccine, a treatment, or something in between in order to control its spread and mitigate the global impact it has had.

Yet another discovery has rolled out a few days ago, a positive one at that! A group of researchers from Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute and UCSD School of Medicine have identified chloroquine, a common anti-malarial agent, as effective against Zika virus infection. Chloroquine is inexpensive and has wide recognition as being a safe drug for men, women, children, and babies in the womb (i.e. pregnant women). It has been in use since the mid 1930s, and as a method to combat malaria in endemic regions, Brazilian authorities ordered it to be infused in cooking salt as a national, wide-scale malaria prevention method (similar to how we infuse iodine for nutritional needs).

Specifically, this research team has discovered that water-administrated chloroquine in mouse models of Zika results in reduced viral load in maternal mouse blood and neural progenitor cells of the fetal brain. Considering that Zika is now a defined STI with neurological effects, these results are remarkably bright. It appears that chloroquine could both reduce likelihood of transmission from mother to child in addition to the likelihood that the fetus presents with neurological damage. However, this appears to be more effective as a prevention method as opposed to a treatment method, which is still great considering most people only experience mild-flu like symptoms upon Zika infection. More research is necessary before any of this is definitive and even before we know that we have a mechanism that works in both humans and mice. But, it's something.

I'll Zika, see ya later.

-javarcia ivory

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171117085105.htm