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West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne virus that affect many people, previous exposure to this virus can determine the reaction of affected person to Zika virus. Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus and relative of West Nile.
Previous exposure to West Nile Virus could either prevents Zika infection or make it worse. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases NIAID will collect blood samples from people that had West Nile virus for presence of West Nile antibodies.
These antibodies would indicate if the individual once had the virus but fought it off. The blood samples of those that had West Nile virus that fought it off in the past will be used to explore antibody-dependent enhancement ADE, where the presence of certain antibodies can either strengthen or fight a subsequent infection.
Researchers will use blood samples that are positive for West Nile antibodies to carry out tests that will determine whether West Nile antibodies enhance or inhibit Zika virus infection.
If the results show that West Nile enhances Zika, people must prevent mosquito bites. If West Nile inhibits Zika, a vaccine for West Nile could potentially protect against Zika.
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