Zika Treatment For Pregnant Women, Fetuses In The Offing

A new study of the Zika virus in mice raises hope for a way to protect pregnant women and their babies from the possible repercussions of being infected. The experimental treatment id derived from antibodies taken from the blood of people who have recovered from Zika infections. Tested on pregnant mice, the treatment reduced levels of the virus in the mother, and also protected their pups from the ravages of the virus. Zika, spread primarily through mosquitoes, has been known to cause birth defects in infants whose mothers are infected during pregnancy. This is proof of principle that Zika virus during pregnancy is treatable, and researchers already have a human antibody that treats it, at least in mice. In the study, the researchers screened 29 Zika-specific antibodies taken from the white blood cells of patients who recovered from Zika infections caused by strains in Asia, Africa and the Americas. They found one, called ZIKV-117, that neutralized all of the strains. The team then tested the antibodies on pregnant mice one day before and a day after infection with Zika. The antibody reduces virus in the mother and also in the fetus, and it protects against placental and fetal damage.