1. Effective-
In both cell cultures and mouse models, a drug used to treat Hepatitis C effectively protected and rescued neural cells infected by the Zika virus -- and blocked transmission of the virus to mouse fetuses.
Cell culture-
refers to the removal of cells from an animal or plant and their subsequent growth in a favorable artificial environment.
Mouse models-
mice naturally develop conditions that mimic human disease conditions, so inbred laboratory mice have been used as model organisms to study the virus.
2. Useage-
Researcherssay their findings support further investigation of using the repurposed drug as a potential treatment for Zika-infected adults, including pregnant women.
3. Explanation-
Research took place in the Muotri Lab, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093.
Goal: a cure for the zika virus.
"The team investigated an antiviral drug called sofosbuvir, approved and marketed under the brand name Sovaldi to treat and cure hepatitis C infections. The drug works by inhibiting replication of the hepatitis C virus. Researchers noted that both hepatitis C and Zika belong to the same viral family and bore strong structural similarities that could make sofosbuvir effective against the latter. In addition, it had been reported that sofosbuvir was protective against Zika in different cell types (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180125135529.htm)."
Zika vs. Sofosbuvir-
a. rescued dying NPCs infected with the Zika
b. restored gene expression linked to their antiviral response
c. arrested Zika replication in vivo
d. stopped flow from mother to fetus
e. the drug was well-tolerated by the Zika-infected pregnant mice
"In subsequent tests using an immunodeficient mouse model infected by Zika, intravenous injections of sofosbuvir significantly reduced viral loads in blood serum compared to a placebo group. Moreover, fetuses of Zika-infected pregnant mice did not show detectable Zika virus amplification in the sofosbuvir-treated group."
http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/repurposed_drug_found_to_be_effective_against_zika_virus
More research needs to be done, but we are approaching the effective cure of the Zika virus.
