Zika virus, HSV-2 and placenta

Zika virus productively infects primary human placenta-specific macrophages.

The strong association of Zika virus infection with congenital defects has led to questions of how a flavivirus is capable of crossing the placental barrier to reach the fetal brain. Here, we demonstrate permissive Zika virus infection of primary human placental macrophages, commonly referred to as Hofbauer cells, and placental villous fibroblasts. We also demonstrate Zika virus infection of Ho...

Seroepidemiological Study of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV-2) Antibody in Shiraz, Iran

Background: Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Type 2 is a widespread human infectious agent responsible for persistent and latent infections. Objectives: To estimate the regional seroprevalence of anti HSV-2 antibody in Shiraz, Iran and to investigate the possible correlation of seropositivity with malignant changes in subjects’ Papanicolaou (Pap) tests. Methods: Data were collected in a cross-section...

Is Iran threatened by Zika virus?

Zika virus is an Arbovirus identified first time in 1947 in Uganda. Zika epidemic is a threat far greater than the Ebola outbreak. The World Health Organization has urged Asian countries to be vigilant about the risk of spreading Zika virus and preventive measures to control it. In Iran, 64 species of mosquitoes from Culicidea family have been reported three of which belong to the Aedes genus, ...

Zika Virus Infection after Returning from Thailand

Immunization with herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) genes plus inactivated HSV-2 is highly protective against acute and recurrent HSV-2 disease.

To date, no vaccine that is safe and effective against herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) disease has been licensed. In this study, we evaluated a DNA prime-formalin-inactivated-HSV-2 (FI-HSV2) boost vaccine approach in the guinea pig model of acute and recurrent HSV-2 genital disease. Five groups of guinea pigs were immunized and intravaginally challenged with HSV-2. Two groups were primed with pl...