Science cartoon based on "Sexual transmission of Ebola Virus"

Sexual transmission of Ebola Virus

Ebola virus need no introduction. Ebola virus disease was known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. Till today, no promising treatment or vaccine is there to cure Ebola virus disease.

It is thought that fruit bats are natural Ebola virus hosts. Ebola is introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals such as chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines found ill or dead or in the rainforest.

Ebola spreads through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids.

Data on sexual transmission of Ebola viruses were lacking till now but work published by CPT Suzanne Mate, Ph.D., of U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), USA with the help of genomic analysis provide proof about positive conformation of sexual transmission. The paper published on 14^th Oct, 2015 in the New England Journal of Medicine, provides molecular evidence of Ebola virus (EBOV) transmission between an EVD survivor and his female partner.

Reference: Suzanne E. Mate et al (2015), Molecular Evidence of Sexual Transmission of Ebola Virus. New England Journal of Medicine, 151014140151006 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1509773

 

Science Cartoon based on Research indicates that Viruses are alive and evolve too....

Science Cartoon based on Research indicates that Viruses are alive and evolve too....

 Reference: A phylogenomic data-driven exploration of viral origins and evolution

Science cartoon based on "Invasive ant carrying virus pathogens to honeybee"

 Science cartoon based on "Invasive ant carrying virus pathogens to honeybee"

Argentine ants (Linepithema humile), listed in top 100 invaders,  are one of the world’s most widespread, abundant, and damaging species. Researchers have just discovered a novel virus carried by these global invaders that they think may kill that ant and control their spread is a good news. Unfortunately, the team also found that these invasive ants, host other viruses that threatens to devastate honeybees.  A group of scientists, led by Victoria University of Wellington’s Professor Phil Lester, has discovered that invasive Argentine ants frequently carry a previously undescribed virus. These exotic ants also host a virus widely associated with honey bee deaths.Death of honeybees is harmful to the ecosystem because honey bee is known for pollination of lot many plant including agricultural crop also. 

 Reference:Alexandra Sébastien, Philip J. Lester, Richard J. Hall, Jing Wang, Nicole E. Moore, Monica A. M. Gruber (2015), Invasive ants carry novel viruses in their new range and form reservoirs for a honeybee pathogen,Published 9 September 2015.DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2015.0610