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

 

A tribute to Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

A tribute to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam on World Students Day

Dr. APJ Adbul Kalam changed the meaning of the word "President" to "People's president". Can we rewrite the alphabets in honour to him...?

 

Science Cartoon based on research "Two words are enough to recognize the caller, if known "

Two words are enough to recognize the caller, if known

Generally, when we listen “Hello…” we recognize the voice of known person (If you have not seen the caller ID in mobile). Now, scientific study is supporting this phenomenon of recognizing person with help of minimum words.

According to Julien Planet-Hebert from University of Montreal, More than 99% of the time, two words are enough for people with normal hearing to distinguish the voice of a close friend or relative amongst other voices. He presented his finding in 18th International Congress of Phonetic Sciences, involved playing recordings to Canadian French speakers, who were asked to recognize on multiple trials which of the ten male voices they heard was familiar to them. French word "Merci beaucoup" (thanks a lot) turned out to be all they needed to hear.

So, now next time when you call some stranger & that stranger recognize you by just one-two word, be certain of you are not stranger to the stranger.

Link to original article:  Machines have nothing on mum when it comes to listening

Link to article published Science daily: Machines have nothing on mom when it comes to listening

Science Cartoon based on Research "Arsenic in American Red Wine"

Science Cartoon based on Research "Arsenic in American Red Wine"

 

Link to Original Article: Arsenic Content in American Wine

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 on " Large Dams can spread Malaria"

Believe it or not....! According to the team of scientists, in sub-Saharan Africa, dams contribute significantly to malaria risk particularly in areas of unstable transmission.

"Dams are of lot importance to development, but it brings an adverse situation too. According to biologist Solomon Kibret of the University of New England in Australia, the lead author of the research published in Malaria journal. Paper entitled "Malaria impact of large dams in sub-Saharan Africa: maps, estimates and predictions" is about relationship large dams and malaria. Researchers clearly found that large dams have a greater impact on malaria prevalence in areas of unstable transmission.  Dams intensify the transmission of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. This finding of particular area may be applicable to the large dams around the world and required research. 

 Reference: Solomon Kibret, Jonathan Lautze, Matthew McCartney, G. Glenn Wilson, Luxon Nhamo. Malaria impact of large dams in sub-Saharan Africa: maps, estimates and predictions. Malaria Journal, 2015; 14 (1) DOI: 10.1186/s12936-015-0873-2

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