ATCC, the premier global biological materials resource and standards organisation, is all set to assist the medical and life science researchers that are working to address the evolving concerns around Zika virus infection.

Zika virus is a single-stranded RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family, genus Flavivirus, which also includes the West Nile, dengue and chikungunya viruses. Zika virus is transmitted to humans primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito.

The virus was first deposited into ATCC by Dr. Jordi Casals of the Rockefeller Foundation Virus Laboratory in 1953. Since that time ATCC has made the Zika virus (ATCC VR-84) strain MR766 available for research purposes to qualified scientists and laboratories, on a global basis, through a highly vetted process that requires them to demonstrate they have appropriate facilities and safety programs in place (in accordance with Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) guidelines). ATCC is now working to respond to the greatly increased demand for the Zika virus in an effort to support a better understanding of its biology and to foster development of accurate and dependable diagnostic tests.

In addition to ATCC, three stains of the Zika virus are available through BEI Resources, a NIAID Biorepository established to support basic research and develop improved diagnostic tests, vaccines, and therapies. Registration and approval is required by NIAID to obtain these viruses.

As the biomedical and scientific communities continue to respond to the public health concerns represented by the Zika Virus, ATCC will work closely with them to ensure they have the research and biological reference materials they need for their work.