Researchers make disturbing new discovery about deadly disease that impacts pregnant women: ‘These findings offer vital insights’ – The Cool Down

Researchers make disturbing new discovery about deadly disease that impacts pregnant women: ‘These findings offer vital insights’ – The Cool Down
Source Link
Excerpt:

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have discovered that the Zika virus builds tiny tunnels called nanotubes in the cells of pregnant women, helping it to covertly cross the placental barrier, which normally protects the fetus from chemicals and microbes that could harm it.

The study, published in Nature Communications, also found that this strategy raises little alarm in the immune system.

“We discovered that the formation of these tiny tunnels is driven exclusively by a Zika protein called NS1,” first author Rafael T. Michita stated in a news release. “Exposure of placental cells to the NS1 protein of Zika virus triggers tunnel formation. As the tunnels develop and connect neighboring cells, a path opens for the virus to invade new cells.”