Research progress on the West Nile virus inhibitors / 药学学报

West Nile virus is a flavivirus transmitted by culex mosquitoes. People are generally susceptible to it, West Nile virus infection can cause west Nile fever, which can develop West Nile viral encephalitis and even lead to death. There are currently no approved specific antiviral drugs against West Nile virus. Therefore, seeking effective West Nile virus inhibitors is a hot topic in current community of medicinal chemistry. In this article, based on the main targets of West Nile virus, we summarize the new progress research on West Nile virus inhibitors.

The First Reported Case of West Nile Encephalitis in Korea

West Nile encephalitis was first identified in 1937, but until now, it was never diagnosed in Korea. A 58-yr-old Korean man was admitted with headache and cognitive dysfunction. The patient had been on a business trip in Guinea. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showed pleocytosis. The patient complained of both leg weakness,and arachnoiditis and myelitis were observed on lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A specific neutralizing antibody for West Nile virus was positive in serum. After a treatment with interferon-alpha 3mu, follow up CSF findings recovered completely after 3 months later. The first case of West Nile encephalitis in Korea was imported from Guinea, and was cured successfully.

The First Reported Case of West Nile Encephalitis in Korea

West Nile encephalitis was first identified in 1937, but until now, it was never diagnosed in Korea. A 58-yr-old Korean man was admitted with headache and cognitive dysfunction. The patient had been on a business trip in Guinea. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showed pleocytosis. The patient complained of both leg weakness,and arachnoiditis and myelitis were observed on lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A specific neutralizing antibody for West Nile virus was positive in serum. After a treatment with interferon-alpha 3mu, follow up CSF findings recovered completely after 3 months later. The first case of West Nile encephalitis in Korea was imported from Guinea, and was cured successfully.

Primer hallazgo de Aedes albopictus en el área metropolitana de Honduras / First finding of Aedes albopictus in the metropolitan area of Honduras

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y transversal, desde agosto hasta octubre de 2009, con vistas a informar el hallazgo de Aedes albopictus en la región metropolitana de Honduras. Las muestras colectadas se llevaron al laboratorio de entomología, donde se clasificaron desde el punto de vista de la taxonomía. Se encontró asociación de esta especie con larvas de Aedes aegypti y Toxorhynchites sp. Las larvas del género Aedes fueron colocadas en bandejas blancas, luego introducidas en jaulas, a fin de obtener los adultos y corroborar el diagnóstico. Los adultos emergidos fueron clasificados de la misma forma, lo cual confirmó la presencia de Aedes albopictus en la mencionada área. Por la importancia de esta especie, se expone sobre la biología y las características principales de este vector.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out from August to October 2009 in order to report the finding of Aedes albopictus in the metropolitan region of Honduras. The collected samples were taken to the entomology laboratory, where they were classified from the taxonomic point of view. There was association of this species with larvas of Aedes aegypti and Toxorhynchites sp. The larvae of the gender Aedes were placed in white trays, then they were introduced in cages, in order to obtain the adults and to corroborate the diagnosis. The obtained adults were classified in the same way, which confirmed the presence of Aedes albopictus in the mentioned area. Due to the importance of this species, it is exposed in biology with the main characteristics of this vector.