UW researchers find Zika-blocking bacterium

01 Jul UW researchers find Zika-blocking bacterium

MADISON, Wis. – Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison say they’ve found a benign bacterium that can completely block transmission of Zika virus in the mosquito species responsible for passing the virus to humans.

The bacteria, called Wolbachia pipientis, could present a “novel biological control mechanism,” aiding efforts to stop the spread of Zika virus, UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine scientist Matthew Aliota said.

Thirty-nine countries and territories in the Americas have been affected by the Zika epidemic, and it is expected that at least 4 million people will be infected by the end of the year. Scientists believe the virus is responsible for a host of brain defects in developing fetuses, including microcephaly, and has contributed to an uptick in cases of a neurological disorder called Guillain-Barre syndrome.

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