A team of researchers led by Dr. Ravi Durvasula, Professor at the Loyola University Chicago has generated six Zika virus antibodies that may help in diagnosis as well as treatment of the mosquito-borne disease. These diseases have already infected more than 1.5 million people worldwide in the last few years. These new antibodies may have the dual utility of diagnosing the Zika virus subtypes and treating Zika virus infection .
This new antibody is a Y-shaped protein made by the immune system. These antibodies are inexpensive to produce and a simple filter paper test is used to detect the Zika virus, while still stationed even on the field. If the filter paper turns color it means that Zika virus is present. During this study, the researcher used a technology called Ribosome Display and generated 6 synthetic antibodies that bind to the Zika virus, which during pregnancy can cause…
