Understanding a health epidemic: Meghan May publishes Zika Virus research
In an attempt to understand the sudden emergence of Zika, Meghan May, Ph.D., associate professor of microbiology and infectious disease in the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine conducted research with Ryan Relich, Ph.D., clinical assistant professor at Indiana University. They published a paper titled, “A Comprehensive Systems Biology Approach to Studying Zika Virus.”
May and Relich researched the genetic diversity of the Zika virus coming from different parts of the world. They found that no two isolates were alike, indicating that Zika Virus is changing and adapting very quickly. These changes would result in less effective testing for the virus. May and Relich also discovered a genetic change in a protein that could explain why Zika is causing microcephaly in fetal brains.
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