on the 31st of March 2016 a young man returning from the Solomon
a young man returning from the Solomon
a young man returning from the Solomon Islands presented at an emergency
Islands presented at an emergency
Islands presented at an emergency department at one of Brisbane hospitals
department at one of Brisbane hospitals
department at one of Brisbane hospitals soon after he would be diagnosed with
soon after he would be diagnosed with
soon after he would be diagnosed with the first reported case of the Zika
the first reported case of the Zika
the first reported case of the Zika virus in Australia and in that moment
virus in Australia and in that moment
virus in Australia and in that moment the Zika virus which had both horrified
the Zika virus which had both horrified
the Zika virus which had both horrified and captivated the world was no longer a
and captivated the world was no longer a
and captivated the world was no longer a distant threat oceans countries and
distant threat oceans countries and
distant threat oceans countries and continents away it had hit our shores
continents away it had hit our shores
continents away it had hit our shores as the initial outbreak spread from
as the initial outbreak spread from
as the initial outbreak spread from patient to patient village to village
patient to patient village to village
patient to patient village to village town to town and country to country news
town to town and country to country news
town to town and country to country news stories concerning the phenomenal spread
stories concerning the phenomenal spread
stories concerning the phenomenal spread of the virus were prolific this was no
of the virus were prolific this was no
of the virus were prolific this was no doubt due in part to the at times
doubt due in part to the at times
doubt due in part to the at times devastating side effects of the zika
devastating side effects of the zika
devastating side effects of the zika virus at its peak you could not go a
virus at its peak you could not go a
virus at its peak you could not go a single day without hearing news of it
single day without hearing news of it
single day without hearing news of it now although the Zika virus generally
now although the Zika virus generally
now although the Zika virus generally only causes mild symptoms it is actually
only causes mild symptoms it is actually
only causes mild symptoms it is actually becoming a major health issue due to
becoming a major health issue due to
becoming a major health issue due to factors which include its ability to
factors which include its ability to
factors which include its ability to replicate in those cells which line the
replicate in those cells which line the
replicate in those cells which line the vaginal wall it remains viable in semen
vaginal wall it remains viable in semen
vaginal wall it remains viable in semen six months post infection and its
six months post infection and its
six months post infection and its capacity to infect fetal brains in utero
capacity to infect fetal brains in utero
capacity to infect fetal brains in utero resulting in numerous devastating birth
resulting in numerous devastating birth
resulting in numerous devastating birth defects including micro carefully as you
defects including micro carefully as you
defects including micro carefully as you can see in the image behind me by May
can see in the image behind me by May
can see in the image behind me by May 2017 the CDC estimated that there were
2017 the CDC estimated that there were
2017 the CDC estimated that there were currently 50 countries with active Zika
currently 50 countries with active Zika
currently 50 countries with active Zika virus alike so
virus alike so
virus alike so any people around the world I watched
any people around the world I watched
any people around the world I watched the news coverage with an overwhelming
the news coverage with an overwhelming
the news coverage with an overwhelming sense of empathy and concern concern for
sense of empathy and concern concern for
sense of empathy and concern concern for the babies born with microcephaly
the babies born with microcephaly
the babies born with microcephaly concern for the parents and concern for
concern for the parents and concern for
concern for the parents and concern for the healthcare workers unable to halt
the healthcare workers unable to halt
the healthcare workers unable to halt the spread of the virus unable to
the spread of the virus unable to
the spread of the virus unable to console the parents because there was no
console the parents because there was no
console the parents because there was no treatment for the Zika virus but unlike
treatment for the Zika virus but unlike
treatment for the Zika virus but unlike many of those around the world
many of those around the world
many of those around the world I’m biochemist whose research focuses on
I’m biochemist whose research focuses on
I’m biochemist whose research focuses on by discovery with a particular emphasis
by discovery with a particular emphasis
by discovery with a particular emphasis on the healing abilities of Australian
on the healing abilities of Australian
on the healing abilities of Australian native plants
native plants
native plants so as the seemingly endless news
so as the seemingly endless news
so as the seemingly endless news coverage continued it pushed me to ask
coverage continued it pushed me to ask
coverage continued it pushed me to ask could the work the bio discovery work
could the work the bio discovery work
could the work the bio discovery work that myself and my team were conducting
that myself and my team were conducting
that myself and my team were conducting could it provide a solution was it
could it provide a solution was it
could it provide a solution was it possible that an Australian native plant
possible that an Australian native plant
possible that an Australian native plant had the ability to kill the Zika virus
had the ability to kill the Zika virus
had the ability to kill the Zika virus the more I thought about it the more I
the more I thought about it the more I
the more I thought about it the more I was convinced that there was definitely
was convinced that there was definitely
was convinced that there was definitely potential there my current research to
potential there my current research to
potential there my current research to date had already shown that Australian
date had already shown that Australian
date had already shown that Australian native plants could definitely produce
native plants could definitely produce
native plants could definitely produce scientifically validated medicines now I
scientifically validated medicines now I
scientifically validated medicines now I was on to something something that if
was on to something something that if
was on to something something that if proved incorrect could have global
proved incorrect could have global
proved incorrect could have global implications I mentioned the idea of
implications I mentioned the idea of
implications I mentioned the idea of screening a couple of native plants to
screening a couple of native plants to
screening a couple of native plants to my husband we were standing in the
my husband we were standing in the
my husband we were standing in the kitchen at home and he turned to me and
kitchen at home and he turned to me and
kitchen at home and he turned to me and said what that’s not going to work I
said what that’s not going to work I
said what that’s not going to work I stood my ground
stood my ground
stood my ground yeah I stood my ground and told him that
yeah I stood my ground and told him that
yeah I stood my ground and told him that my gut instinct was telling me otherwise
my gut instinct was telling me otherwise
my gut instinct was telling me otherwise now being a scientist himself with who’s
now being a scientist himself with who’s
now being a scientist himself with who’s actually quite experienced in the rigors
actually quite experienced in the rigors
actually quite experienced in the rigors of scientific exploration and discovery
of scientific exploration and discovery
of scientific exploration and discovery he asked are there any precedents the
he asked are there any precedents the
he asked are there any precedents the plants with antiviral activity intrigued
plants with antiviral activity intrigued
plants with antiviral activity intrigued and captivated and I was spurred on to
and captivated and I was spurred on to
and captivated and I was spurred on to find scientific evidence to support this
find scientific evidence to support this
find scientific evidence to support this but also to support my gut instinct I
but also to support my gut instinct I
but also to support my gut instinct I marched straight to to my computer I
marched straight to to my computer I
marched straight to to my computer I didn’t miss a beat
didn’t miss a beat
didn’t miss a beat actually I did a search using a
actually I did a search using a
actually I did a search using a scientific database and I had my answer
scientific database and I had my answer
scientific database and I had my answer in less than 45 seconds yes there were
in less than 45 seconds yes there were
in less than 45 seconds yes there were indeed precedents for plant-based
indeed precedents for plant-based
indeed precedents for plant-based antiviral activity I was excited and I
antiviral activity I was excited and I
antiviral activity I was excited and I was determined so for me my challenge
was determined so for me my challenge
was determined so for me my challenge was to not only find a plant that could
was to not only find a plant that could
was to not only find a plant that could totally kill the Zika virus but also to
totally kill the Zika virus but also to
totally kill the Zika virus but also to find the money so that the work could be
find the money so that the work could be
find the money so that the work could be conducted
conducted
conducted so my next big hurdle was to try and
so my next big hurdle was to try and
so my next big hurdle was to try and convince my industry partner that we
convince my industry partner that we
convince my industry partner that we should go ahead with the project even
should go ahead with the project even
should go ahead with the project even though by discovery is extremely costly
though by discovery is extremely costly
though by discovery is extremely costly and there’s no guarantees of success but
and there’s no guarantees of success but
and there’s no guarantees of success but we were talking about the Zika virus we
we were talking about the Zika virus we
we were talking about the Zika virus we were talking about a virus that was
were talking about a virus that was
were talking about a virus that was causing microcephaly in unborn and
causing microcephaly in unborn and
causing microcephaly in unborn and newborn babies we were talking about a
newborn babies we were talking about a
newborn babies we were talking about a virus that had the ability to jump
virus that had the ability to jump
virus that had the ability to jump continents I was very hesitant to ask
continents I was very hesitant to ask
continents I was very hesitant to ask for more money especially since my
for more money especially since my
for more money especially since my industry partner had already been so
industry partner had already been so
industry partner had already been so extremely generous in providing me with
extremely generous in providing me with
extremely generous in providing me with funds for my other research however
funds for my other research however
funds for my other research however a spurred on I made my best pitch of
a spurred on I made my best pitch of
a spurred on I made my best pitch of course and I included the existing
course and I included the existing
course and I included the existing precedence with regards to the
precedence with regards to the
precedence with regards to the plant-based antiviral activity luckily
plant-based antiviral activity luckily
plant-based antiviral activity luckily for all concerned
for all concerned
for all concerned they agreed yes so the next stop the
they agreed yes so the next stop the
they agreed yes so the next stop the next step was of course the lab now for
next step was of course the lab now for
next step was of course the lab now for those of you that aren’t biochemists our
those of you that aren’t biochemists our
those of you that aren’t biochemists our goal was actually quite simple or simple
goal was actually quite simple or simple
goal was actually quite simple or simple when you say it really quickly what we
when you say it really quickly what we
when you say it really quickly what we were trying to do is to find a plant
were trying to do is to find a plant
were trying to do is to find a plant that could kill the Zika virus without
that could kill the Zika virus without
that could kill the Zika virus without any damage to the host cells so to
any damage to the host cells so to
any damage to the host cells so to determine whether we could do that I
determine whether we could do that I
determine whether we could do that I selected two Australian native plants
selected two Australian native plants
selected two Australian native plants methanol was used to extract the
methanol was used to extract the
methanol was used to extract the bioactive compounds or put simply
bioactive compounds or put simply
bioactive compounds or put simply compounds that have a biological effect
compounds that have a biological effect
compounds that have a biological effect and now since the picture paints a
and now since the picture paints a
and now since the picture paints a thousand words what you see here is a
thousand words what you see here is a
thousand words what you see here is a plaque assay now a plaque I’ll say is a
plaque assay now a plaque I’ll say is a
plaque assay now a plaque I’ll say is a way of determining how many infectious
way of determining how many infectious
way of determining how many infectious viral particles there are across the
viral particles there are across the
viral particles there are across the plate we have serial dilutions of the
plate we have serial dilutions of the
plate we have serial dilutions of the virus or rather different concentrations
virus or rather different concentrations
virus or rather different concentrations of the virus ranging from highest to
of the virus ranging from highest to
of the virus ranging from highest to lowest here you can see a virus only
lowest here you can see a virus only
lowest here you can see a virus only control where the virus appears as the
control where the virus appears as the
control where the virus appears as the white spots next we have our extract
white spots next we have our extract
white spots next we have our extract only control and in the middle we have
only control and in the middle we have
only control and in the middle we have cells that were treated with either
cells that were treated with either
cells that were treated with either plant species 8472 or species 8 473
plant species 8472 or species 8 473
plant species 8472 or species 8 473 18 hours post infection so when we look
18 hours post infection so when we look
18 hours post infection so when we look at those cells that were treated with
at those cells that were treated with
at those cells that were treated with species 8472 you can see there was
species 8472 you can see there was
species 8472 you can see there was absolutely no effect in contrast when we
absolutely no effect in contrast when we
absolutely no effect in contrast when we look at those cells that were treated
look at those cells that were treated
look at those cells that were treated with species 8 4 7 3 you can see that we
with species 8 4 7 3 you can see that we
with species 8 4 7 3 you can see that we have 100% total elimination of the Zika
have 100% total elimination of the Zika
have 100% total elimination of the Zika virus
yes I think this is definitely history
yes I think this is definitely history in the making our results also showed
in the making our results also showed
in the making our results also showed that there were no toxic effects or
that there were no toxic effects or
that there were no toxic effects or damage to the primate cells that were
damage to the primate cells that were
damage to the primate cells that were used in all of these experiments our
used in all of these experiments our
used in all of these experiments our other work has also shown that not only
other work has also shown that not only
other work has also shown that not only can we kill this at the virus outside
can we kill this at the virus outside
can we kill this at the virus outside the cell we can also totally kill the
the cell we can also totally kill the
the cell we can also totally kill the virus inside the cell so what this means
virus inside the cell so what this means
virus inside the cell so what this means is we have 100% total clearance of the
is we have 100% total clearance of the
is we have 100% total clearance of the Zika virus
until now no antiviral therapies or
until now no antiviral therapies or vaccines have been available for the
vaccines have been available for the
vaccines have been available for the treatment of Zika virus anywhere for
treatment of Zika virus anywhere for
treatment of Zika virus anywhere for anyone in the world
anyone in the world
anyone in the world hence the costs associated with the Zika
hence the costs associated with the Zika
hence the costs associated with the Zika virus the spread of the Zika virus for
virus the spread of the Zika virus for
virus the spread of the Zika virus for example in Latin America and the
example in Latin America and the
example in Latin America and the Caribbean alone will total between 7 to
Caribbean alone will total between 7 to
Caribbean alone will total between 7 to 18 billion US dollars the human costs
18 billion US dollars the human costs
18 billion US dollars the human costs associated with the spread of the Zika
associated with the spread of the Zika
associated with the spread of the Zika virus has seen numerous pregnancy losses
virus has seen numerous pregnancy losses
virus has seen numerous pregnancy losses babies born with microcephaly eye and
babies born with microcephaly eye and
babies born with microcephaly eye and brain abnormalities and neural tube
brain abnormalities and neural tube
brain abnormalities and neural tube deficits now none of these can be
deficits now none of these can be
deficits now none of these can be measured in monetary value they can
measured in monetary value they can
measured in monetary value they can however be measured in heartache and
however be measured in heartache and
however be measured in heartache and tears and the hours that will now be
tears and the hours that will now be
tears and the hours that will now be spent providing long-term care so our
spent providing long-term care so our
spent providing long-term care so our main goal was to develop a novel therapy
main goal was to develop a novel therapy
main goal was to develop a novel therapy that could not only kill the virus in
that could not only kill the virus in
that could not only kill the virus in those individuals that are currently
those individuals that are currently
those individuals that are currently infected with the Zika virus but also to
infected with the Zika virus but also to
infected with the Zika virus but also to be used as a ravenna t’v treatment in
be used as a ravenna t’v treatment in
be used as a ravenna t’v treatment in those areas where the Zika virus is rife
those areas where the Zika virus is rife
those areas where the Zika virus is rife but this is only the beginning although
but this is only the beginning although
but this is only the beginning although we have a potential treatment for
we have a potential treatment for
we have a potential treatment for the Zika virus our future work will
the Zika virus our future work will
the Zika virus our future work will focus on examining and assessing the
focus on examining and assessing the
focus on examining and assessing the plants ability to kill other members of
plants ability to kill other members of
plants ability to kill other members of the flava Verde family of which the Zika
the flava Verde family of which the Zika
the flava Verde family of which the Zika virus is apart
virus is apart
virus is apart for example the dengue virus like zika
for example the dengue virus like zika
for example the dengue virus like zika dengue there is no treatment an
dengue there is no treatment an
dengue there is no treatment an estimated costs indicate that 2.5
estimated costs indicate that 2.5
estimated costs indicate that 2.5 billion that is 30 percent of the
billion that is 30 percent of the
billion that is 30 percent of the world’s population in over 100 countries
world’s population in over 100 countries
world’s population in over 100 countries are currently at risk of infection
are currently at risk of infection
are currently at risk of infection incredibly each year 390 million
incredibly each year 390 million
incredibly each year 390 million patients are infected with dengue virus
patients are infected with dengue virus
patients are infected with dengue virus of these 500,000 develop into
of these 500,000 develop into
of these 500,000 develop into hemorrhagic fever a more severe form of
hemorrhagic fever a more severe form of
hemorrhagic fever a more severe form of the disease which results in up to
the disease which results in up to
the disease which results in up to 24,000 deaths worldwide so if our client
24,000 deaths worldwide so if our client
24,000 deaths worldwide so if our client can also is also shown to have an effect
can also is also shown to have an effect
can also is also shown to have an effect and be able to kill the dengue virus can
and be able to kill the dengue virus can
and be able to kill the dengue virus can you imagine the possibilities today we
you imagine the possibilities today we
you imagine the possibilities today we have an our lab right by all means
have an our lab right by all means
have an our lab right by all means appears to be a cure for the Zika virus
appears to be a cure for the Zika virus
appears to be a cure for the Zika virus tomorrow who knows
tomorrow who knows
tomorrow who knows what we will achieve
”
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