Uncertainty in times of medical emergency: Knowledge gaps and structural ignorance during the Brazilian Zika crisis
by Kelly et al.Uncertainty was a defining feature of the Brazilian Zika crisis of 2015–2016. This article identifies three forms of uncertainty: global health, public health and clinical uncertainty, and it suggests that “emergency research” was effective in tackling global health uncertainty.
Research Models and Tools for the Identification of Antivirals and Therapeutics against Zika Virus Infection
by Alves et al.This review focuses on the recent advances regarding research models, as well as available experimental tools that can be used for the identification and characterization of potential antiviral targets and therapeutic intervention strategies.
Zika virus in asymptomatic blood donors in Martinique
by Gallian et al.This pioneering study suggests that the study of blood donors during outbreaks of emerging pathogens has become a key element of epidemiological surveillance.
Axl Mediates ZIKA Virus Entry in Human Glial Cells and Modulates Innate Immune Responses
by Meertens at al.This study highlights the dual role of Axl during ZIKV infection of glial cells: promoting viral entry and modulating innate immune responses. Therefore, inhibiting Axl function may represent a potential target for future antiviral therapies.
By using the bacterium-free ‘Infectious Subgenomic Amplicons’ (ISA) method, this study provides the scientific community with two simple and performing reverse genetics systems for ZIKV.