Microcephaly News and Research

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Measuring head circumference (also known as occipito-frontal circumference) is a significant part of the proper evaluation of a child’s growth and development, as it represents a direct indication of head growth. Therefore deviations from normal head growth may reveal certain congenital or acquired problem.

A multisectoral, global, and interdisciplinary approach is needed for better pandemic preparedness

Researchers reviewed existing data on pandemics and described the steps needed to prevent the emergence.

4 May 2023

Gestational obesity plus zika virus infection can compromise placenta’s immune response

Researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil have shown for the first time that gestational obesity associated with infection by zika virus influences the placenta's antiviral response, weakening the organ's capacity to attack the pathogen and protect the fetus.

20 Apr 2023

Impact of maternal COVID-19 on neonatal brain development

Researchers described two coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) -infected neonate cases.

10 Apr 2023

Study indicates that macrophages that reside in the lymph nodes contribute to the initial Zika virus spread

Researchers mapped Zika virus infections in the lymph nodes to determine how the Zika virus enters from different points in the skin and disseminates through the body.

20 Feb 2023

New Zika virus lineages show increased fitness

The current study, published in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, aimed to explore the possible phenotypic adaptation of the Zika virus to increase its transmissibility and virulence in the Americas.

9 Feb 2023

What are the effects of prenatal exposure to alcohol and marijuana on fetal development?

Researchers presented the effects of simultaneous alcohol and cannabinoid (SAC) usage during gestation on fetal brain development.

10 Jan 2023

New research helps to better understand the risks associated with prenatal Zika virus infections

Approximately one third of children born to mothers infected with Zika virus during their pregnancy present with at least one abnormality consistent with Congenital Zika Syndrome in the first years of their life, according to new research.

28 Nov 2022

Ultrapotent IgM antibodies isolated from a pregnant woman with Zika virus show promise as an immunotherapy

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is a potentially teratogenic illness, causing up to one in seven infants born to infected mothers to suffer neurodevelopmental deficits. A new study published in the journal Cell shows that some mothers escape injury to their babies because they develop a highly potent neutralizing antibody.

22 Nov 2022

Whole-genome sequencing is a more comprehensive prenatal test l BGI Perspectives

BGI-Research and the Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province (MCHH) published whole-genome sequencing research results in npj Genomic Medicine.

From BGI Genomics 3 Nov 2022

Research reveals how whole-genome sequencing may enhance detection of fetal CNS anomalies

BGI-Research and the Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province (MCHH) published whole-genome sequencing research results in npj Genomic Medicine.

3 Nov 2022

Duke researchers identify role for key gene in developmental disability syndrome

A single gene that was previously found to be the driving force in a rare syndrome linked to epilepsy, autism and developmental disability has been identified as a linchpin in the formation of healthy neurons.

28 Jun 2022

Taking valproic acid during pregnancy can cause birth defects, study shows

Valproic acid-; a drug used to treat epilepsy, migraine, and bipolar disorder-; can cause birth defects when taken during pregnancy.

14 Jun 2022

Researchers investigate Zika virus and Dengue virus co-immunity

In a new study, researchers successfully created new strains of the Zika virus and proved that the process of passaging through mice resulted in significantly increased virulence.

19 Apr 2022

Zika virus can mutate to become more infective and dangerous, finds study

LA JOLLA, CA-;Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) have found that Zika virus can mutate to become more infective-;and potentially break through pre-existing immunity.

13 Apr 2022

Researchers discover a four-protein complex that may play key role in generating ribosomes

UT Southwestern researchers have identified a four-protein complex that appears to play a key role in generating ribosomes – organelles that serve as protein factories for cells – as well as a surprising part in neurodevelopmental disorders.

29 Mar 2022

A single gene can control brain cell growth in humans, research shows

Controlling how cells grow is fundamental to ensuring proper brain development and stopping aggressive brain tumors.

19 Mar 2022

Surprising discovery about genetic form of microcephaly has potential to inform treatment strategies

Virginia Tech researchers publishing in the Journal of Medical Genetics made a discovery about a genetic form of microcephaly -- a condition where babies' heads and brains are smaller and grow more slowly than those of unaffected children.

14 Feb 2022

Researchers identify first known patients with BUB1 biallelic mutations

A new study published in Science Advances described the first two patients known to have mutations in both copies of BUB1, a critical gene for cell division.

20 Jan 2022

Study opens up prospects for using virotherapy to treat central nervous system tumors

In a study conducted at the University of São Paulo's Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center (HUG-CELL) in Brazil, serial systemic injections of zika virus into mice with brain tumors destroyed the cancer without causing neurological damage or injuring other organs, and increased the animals' survival rate.

11 Jan 2022

Researchers review transmission, origin, pathogenesis, animal model and diagnosis of Zika virus

Announcing a new article publication for Zoonoses journal. Dallas Vue and Qiyi Tang from Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA review transmission, origin, pathogenesis, animal model and diagnosis of Zika Virus.

9 Dec 2021