Zika virus could kill aggressive brain cancer cells, according to a new study.
According to researchers from Washington University of St. Louis, a virus that is transmitted by mosquitoes, may attack the stem cells of a tumor of the brain. Their findings are published in the journal of Experimental Medicine on Tuesday.
Zika virus causes serious brain damage in the fetus in the womb. This fact led scientists to suggest that it may also kill tumor cells in the brain, writes the New York Post.
To prove that the virus can overcome the tumor, the researchers created a version of the virus that does not would dominate a healthy human immune system.
They then tested the virus in glioblastoma — the most common form of brain cancer — which took the patient.
According to the researchers, the virus killed cancer cells, being more effective remedythan traditional treatments.
This therapy also work on mice with brain tumor who have lived longer than rodents who received a placebo.
«We take virus, learn how it works, and then applying it on the case», — writes in his study of microbiologist Dr. Michael diamond. «We must seize the opportunity to get rid of malignant cells. We’ll take the viruses that usually cause damage and make them serve for the good».
