New Atlas

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Red-eyed mosquitoes engineered to break the chain of Zika virus transmission

Nick Lavars February 6, 2019

Scientists have now demonstrated a mosquito engineering technology that renders the biggest transmitter of the Zika virus largely immune to it, raising hopes of a new way to control the spread of it and other mosquito-borne diseases.

Genetically engineered mosquitoes developed by scientists in Australia

Science

Low-cost device rapidly detects mosquito-borne viruses

Ben Coxworth July 13, 2018

If the mosquitoes in a given area start carrying viruses such as Zika or Dengue, then the sooner that local health authorities know, the better. And while existing mosquito-testing procedures take at least week to deliver results, a new biosensor does so in less than an hour.

Science

A faster, cheaper method of detecting Zika in mosquitoes

Ben Coxworth May 24, 2018

We've already seen devices that quickly detect the Zika virus in human biological samples, providing health officials with an early warning of outbreaks. Now, however, an even earlier warning is possible, thanks to a system that quickly and cost-effectively detects the virus in mosquitoes.

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes being tested for Zika, using the new system

Medical

Zika enlisted for the fight against brain cancer

Rich Haridy September 5, 2017

For well over half a century, scientists have been working to harness the cell-destroying power of viruses in the battle against cancer. The latest addition to this arsenal comes from an unlikely source, the relatively new Zika virus, which could offer a new way to fight deadly brain cancers.

On the left are the brain cancer cells before being treated with the Zika virus and ...

Science

How tobacco plants and their relatives are helping us win the war against polio and Zika

Rich Haridy August 15, 2017

Offering hopes of complete eradication of polio, a team of scientists in the UK has created a synthetic polio vaccine that contains non-infectious virus particles that can be grown quickly and cheaply in a close relative of the tobacco plant.

Nicoatiana benthamiana, a close relative of the tobacco plant, is helping scientists create new vaccines for ...

Environment

20 million sterile mosquitoes to be released in California

Rich Haridy July 17, 2017

Twenty million sterile male mosquitoes are set to be released across two neighborhoods in Fresno County, California. This will be the largest mosquito field study ever conducted in the US with an aim of curbing the population of the disease-carrying insect.

Twenty million sterile male mosquitoes are to be released across two neighborhoods in Fresno Country, California

Medical

Low-cost smartphone device seeks out Zika

Michael Irving March 20, 2017

Despite not getting the headlines it did last year, Zika remains an ongoing issue that needs addressing. A team from Sandia National Laboratories has developed a low-cost, portable device for quickly detecting Zika and similar viruses in a sample, driven by a smartphone app.

A new low-cost, portable device can quickly detect Zika and other mosquito-borne viruses using an everyday ...

Health & Wellbeing

Human antibody shown to impart forcefield-like qualities to placenta to battle Zika

Lisa-Ann Lee November 9, 2016

Scientists have discovered a Zika antibody that can potentially protect developing fetuses, probably the number-one victim of the disease.

A scientist with samples of animal cells infected with the Zika virus

Health & Wellbeing

US approves trial of Zika-fighting engineered mosquitoes

Nick Lavars August 7, 2016

With the number of Zika infections in Florida on the rise and real concerns of the virus spreading to other parts of the country, governments are on the lookout for inventive ways to ramp up the response.

Genetics researchers have targeted the Aedes aegypti mosquito in a number of ways

Health & Wellbeing

Two-dollar testing device detects Zika quickly

Danny Gallagher July 5, 2016

An inexpensive new device created by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania uses genetic material instead of antibodies to detect the Zika virus.

The cartridge used in the device uses an assay that only requires a single temperature for ...