Flaviviruses hijack the host microbiota to facilitate their transmission.

Gul, Lejla; Korcsmaros, Tamas; Hall, Neil · Cell · 2022

basic_science · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

Flaviviruses, such as Dengue and Zika viruses, infect millions of people worldwide using mosquitos as vectors. In this issue of Cell, Zhang et al. reveal how these viruses manipulate the skin microbiome of infected hosts in a way that increases vector recruitment and viral spread. They propose vitamin A as a way to counteract the virus and decrease transmission.

Medical subject headings