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Research Roundup: Discerning between Zika and dengue, hope for a GBS vaccine, and killer mosquitoes as mosquito control

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PATH/Georgina Goodwin

In this regular feature on Breakthroughs, we highlight some of the most interesting reads in global health research from the past week.

November 12, 2017 by Taylor Capizola

In this regular feature on Breakthroughs, we highlight some of the most interesting reads in global health research from the past we.

A quick and inexpensive test may make it easier to diagnose and distinguish betweenZika and dengue. Both viruses produce the same NS1 protein, making it is impossible for current NS1 protein-based diagnostic tests to discern between the two. To overcome this problem, scientists developed a set of antibodies produced from immune cells that can distinguish between an NS1 protein produced by the Zika virus and an NS1 protein produced by the dengue virus. In a study, the diagnostic test was able to discern between the two viruses, even when there was a lowNS1 protein count in the body. While further studies are required, this tool could become an essential diagnostic tool in areas of the world where both Zika and dengue are endemic.

A series of papers exploring the impact of group B streptococcus (GBS) was published in Clinical Infectious Diseases. GBS is an infection a mother can pass to her fetus that can cause septicemia, meningitis, and even death. The papers argue that there are 410,000 cases of GBS every year with 147,000 associated stillbirths and infant deaths. There is also a major disparity of GBS cases between developed and developing countries: Many at-risk women in developed countries receive prophylactic antibiotics during labor, but those resources are often not available to women in developing countries. Scientists believe the solution to this problem is a GBS-specific vaccine, which could save over 100,000 infant lives.This vaccine may be critically important as scientists believe “immunizing expecting mothers is a potentially groundbreaking approach that could dramatically reduce the number of maternal and child deaths.”There is currently no GBS vaccine available, but there are candidates in development.

The US Environmental Protection Agency approved the release of lab-reared “killer mosquitoes” to help reduce the population of disease-carrying mosquitoes in certain American states. A biotechnology start-up based in Kentucky—MosquitoMate—will rear these mosquitoes with a lethal bacterium that impedes reproduction and release the infected males into the wild. When the infected males mate with wild females, the offspring will not be viable due to malformed chromosomes. Over time, disease-carrying mosquito populations will dwindle. Other countries, including Brazil, have tried this method and found it successful, suggesting this could be a solution for countries severely affected by mosquito-borne illnesses. This method is also a “non-chemical way of dealing with mosquitoes,” so offers an alternative to pesticide-based vector control.

Categories: Child health, Diagnostics, Malaria, Maternal health, NTDs, Research Roundup, Vaccines, Zika

About the author

Taylor CapizolaGHTC

Taylor Capizola is a program assistant at GHTC who supports GHTC's communications and member engagement activities.

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Research Roundup: Forest loss and Ebola, antibody-caused dengue complications, and a mosquito-monitoring platform

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In this regular feature on Breakthroughs, we highlight some of the most interesting reads in global health research from the past week. A new study found a significant link between forest loss and the timing of Ebola outbreaks. Previous research had already established an association between deforestation patterns and outbreaks hotspots, but this study is the first to connect it to a timeline. Researchers tracked both deforestation events and nearby Ebola outbreaks and found a two-year gap between the event and the outbreak, suggesting there is a delayed, but causal link between deforestation and the emergence of the virus. This discovery may allow scientists to set up early warning systems and aid in the overall prediction of future outbreaks. New evidence has strengthened theories surrounding the role of antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE)—or an antibody-facilitated attack that makes infection more deadly—in severe dengue complications. This evidence suggests individuals infected on more than one occasion with different serotypes—or variants—of dengue may develop a life-threatening infection called dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS), due to antibodies produced from the first infection binding with the virus during the second infection to allow it to more easily enter cells and reproduce. A study of more than 600 children found those with multiple dengue infections of different serotypes had a 7.64 times higher risk of developing DHF/DSS. This evidence sparked a debate about ADE, since genetics, T-cells, and innate immunity all play critical roles in disease complication. Scientists at Stanford University have created a crowd-sourced, cell-phone-based mosquito-monitoring platform to build a network of mosquito surveillance and a global map of mosquito distribution. The platform—Abuzz—will allow citizen scientists—or participants—to use their cell phones to record and submit the buzzing sound of a mosquito. The system then identifies the species using the particular sound of the buzz and plots on a map where and when the mosquito was sighted. The system is compatible with most cell phones—not just smartphones—which opens up the platform to many more people who may not have access to costly technology. If enough contributions are submitted from around the world, Abuzz could create a map of the locations of dangerous species, which the scientists hope could be used to improve mosquito control efforts.