A drug already in use to treat malaria and certain autoimmune diseases in pregnant women has shown promise in reducing transmission of Zika virus from mothers to their foetuses, according to a new study led by an Indian-origin researcher. Researchers showed that Zika virus may manipulate this process in the placenta to infect the developing foetus. The researchers administered hydroxychloroquine, a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug known to inhibit autophagy, to Zika-infected pregnant mice. In the current study, the researchers demonstrated that Zika virus infection activates autophagy in lab cultures of human placental cells and in the placentas of mouse models of Zika virus transmission. The researchers administered hydroxychloroquine, a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug known to inhibit autophagy, to Zika-infected pregnant mice.

Source: Hindustan Times July 11, 2017 15:22 UTC