SW New Mexico News

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, questions like “How long after being infected will I be symptomatic?” and “How quickly will I clear the virus?” were important to answer for scientists working round the clock to model the virus and help save lives. A new journal article by Kathryn Hanley, a New Mexico State University biology professor with more than 20 years’ experience tracking viruses that spillover from animals into human populations, is providing answers to some of these questions regarding dengue and Zika virus.

Hanley’s most recent research on the transmission of these infectious diseases is published in the journal “Nature Communications” in April. Hanley expressed her interest in the spillover of pathogens from wildlife into humans, particularly monkeys, stating, “I have been extremely interested in spillover of pathogens from wildlife, particularly monkeys, into humans.”

The study conducted by Hanley and her team involved infecting two species of monkeys with either dengue virus or Zika virus, transmitted through mosquitoes. Hanley explained, “The monkeys were infected by mosquitoes, which is how viral infections happen naturally.” The research revealed significant findings regarding the transmission efficiency of Zika and dengue viruses.

“We discovered that Zika virus infected the new world monkey extremely well and was transmitted extremely efficiently,” Hanley noted. Additionally, she highlighted, “The other discovery we made is that dengue virus, although we had a hard time even detecting it in the monkeys, can be transmitted even at very low levels of virus back to mosquitoes.”

Moreover, the study identified the role of natural killer cells in shaping the dynamics of infection. Hanley stated, “We found that natural killer cells, which are a kind of immune cell, were highly correlated with patterns of replication.” This insight could potentially aid in developing interventions for these viruses, as there is currently no cure for either dengue or Zika virus.

Looking ahead, Hanley expressed the team’s interest in further research to understand the sustainability of Zika virus in American monkeys and the unique transmission patterns of dengue virus. She explained, “We’d like to know whether Zika virus can be sustained in a cycle in American monkeys,” adding, “The other thing we’d like to know is how is it that dengue is being transmitted at these very, very low viral load levels not typical of other viruses.”

The findings from Hanley’s research shed light on the intricate dynamics of virus transmission between monkeys, mosquitoes, and the human population, offering valuable insights for potential future interventions and treatments.

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CUTLINE: NMSU biology professor Kathryn Hanley’s most recent research on the transmission of dengue and Zika virus is published in the journal “Nature Communications” in April.  (NMSU photo)