Busy Mosquitoes

Fact of the week Unique composition of bacteria on your skin makes some people smell more attractive to mosquitoes than the others. Image from here . Skin microbiota, aka a collection of unique harmless bacteria on your skin, produces chemicals that make some people smell more delicious to mosquitoes than the others. Our skin is covered in millions of harmless bacteria. Mostly of them are friendly bacteria . Some can even be beneficial to skin immune system and prevent other harmful bacteria from growing on our skin. Among other things, "smells" produced from these bacteria can make you smell yummy to mosquitoes.

Zika Virus WHO/PAHO With the rapid spread of Zika virus infection and the strong correlation between Zika virus infection among pregnant mothers and later microcephaly cases among their newborns (underdeveloped brain upon birth), World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika a Public Health Emergency of International Concern regarding microcephaly and Zika infection in early 2016. While WHO announced that Zika was no longer a global " emergency ", the risk assessment of Zika is still the same. The real meaning of it all is worse as this means Zika is here to stay, and we need a long-term strategy to control Zika virus infection.  The Threat Infant affected by Zika-related microcephaly. Diego Herculano/Brazil Photo Press/Latincontent   Zika virus can spread through specific species of mosquitoes, and from infected mother to her unborn child . While Zika virus infection symptoms are mild, if any, in adults, it is no confirmed that  Zika virus...

Fact of the week, 3D illustration of Zika virus particle. Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock Because of the strong correlation between Zika infection during pregnancy and the rise of microcephaly cases in Brazil, resembling prior patterns in French Polynesia other regions associated with Zika infection, WHO declared Zika virus infection a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on February 1st, 2016. Nine months later, WHO declared the end of this "Emergency". Good news? It is the opposite. The term "emergency" here means a quick global response was needed for surveillance and to develop a cure or vaccine for Zika infection ASAP. What the end of the "emergency" really means is that Zika is here to stay . Scientists, researchers and policy makers need a long-term plan to study Zika virus and implement strategies to control the spread of this infection.  Keeping up with our lab on twitter @TWiwatpanit594

Hello Readers, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) A member of National Science and Technology Development Agency , Thailand I am part of a group of scientists at Thailand's National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology ( BIOTEC ) working together on various topics related to infectious diseases. I have come a long way since I started off my research career studying the nervous system of lobsters at Bowdoin College, ME. I went on to study age-related hearing loss and endometrial cancer risks associated with polycystic ovary syndrome for my PhD and postdoctoral years at Northwestern University, IL.  Now, as a relatively new PhD, I am back to my base in Thailand to start my own research on mosquito-borne infections and tissue engineering at BIOTEC. One of our projects is on blocking Zika virus transmission from mother to child. With the constraints of securing funding everywhere, finding supports for your research can be difficul...