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	Podcast:		UC Science Today
	Episode:		An antibiotic commonly used in animals may block Zika virus in humans
	Category:		Science & Medicine
	Duration:		00:01:01
	Publish Date:		2016-09-22 19:00:00
	Description:		An older generation antibiotic currently used in animals to reduce bacterial infections was found to block contemporary strains of Zika virus in human tissue in the lab. Dr. Lenore Pereira of the University of California, San Francisco joined forces with UC Berkeley to make this discovery. "What’s interesting about this drug, it’s called Duramycin, it’s a small molecule inhibitor. And it works directly against the virus envelope – it doesn’t work against the cell. So it’s very specific for Zika virus, Dengue, Ebola; I mean, we are thrilled about the finding." The drug blocked the transmission of Zika virus from mother to fetus from the two routes of infection Pereira helped discover; the placenta in the first trimester and the amniotic sac in the second. "Just this basic knowledge helps us now to ask other questions about what is the best way to reduce infection in a pregnant woman."
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