It is common knowledge
that mosquitoes are one of the major vectors for serious disease, especially
viral disease, however it is curious how such viruses manage to evade the host
mosquito’s immune system. Researchers at
Texas A&M’s AgriLife may have identified this mechanism, and have also
developed a proposed solution to treat many of the serious mosquito-borne
viruses including Yellow Fever, Dengue, West Nile, and Zika. The researchers have managed to identify a
viral protein that successfully suppresses the immune system by blocking the cellular
signals that indicate infection. This
discovery could shift the balance in two ways, either forcing the mosquito’s
immune system the identify and attack the virus thus making the virus susceptible
to the mosquito and limiting its survivability, or by giving the edge to the
virus which would then allow the virus to actually begin to affect the mosquito
as it would a human, thus reducing the mosquito’s ability to transmit the virus
as it is most likely severely ill or possibly killed by the virus. It also opens a new lane for research into
this protein mechanism of these viruses, for if the virus performs similarly in
humans it could be a potential target for vaccination.
Currently the research
is being conducted with the infamous yellow fever virus, however if proven
effective this would allow for the vaccine development for not only Yellow Fever,
but also Dengue, West Nile, and the newer Zika viruses since they all share the
same protein mechanism. This
breakthrough may or may not amount to anything, however, it provides a new
insight into disease and virus transmission many of which are significant in
humans, often hemorrhagic fever of meningitis syndromes. Another promising avenue for research into
viral treatment, but only time will tell if it is effective and viable for
prevention of mosquito-borne disease.
-Ethan Wentworth
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