Meet the genetically modified mosquitoes that are battling the Zika Virus in South America.

Estado del Arte Sindrome Congenito Virus del Zika - Zika y Embarazo

In this video, a team of collaborators led by Wyss Core Faculty member James Collins discuss a low-cost, paper-based diagnostic system that they developed for detecting specific strains of the Zika virus, with the goal that it could soon be used in the field to easily screen blood, urine, or saliva samples. For more information, please visit: wyss.harvard.edu/viewpressrelease/256

A diario nos horrorizamos con las noticias alarmantes que provienen de distintas fuentes y distintos países sobre este "nuevo" virus y de los desastres que dejará en Brasil, Colombia, etc. Qué tan cierto es esto? Está la población cayendo muerta producto de este virus? Que tan cierto es el riesgo para nuestras embarazadas? El Dr. Sergio Alvizu, nos cuenta de que se trata esta nueva enfermedad, que precauciones deberíamos tener en territorio nacional, como Isla de Pascua, y cuales son los casos probables y que debemos hacer con ellos! Esperamos que les sea de utilidad! Un abrazo

A 2D animation that explains the Zika Virus and its modes of transmission, symptoms, risk factors, and possible connection to microcephaly*. *The CDC confirmed the link between Zika and Microcephaly on April 12th. Animation is being edited to include this information. Spanish and Portuguese narrations coming soon.

Zika, Dengue Fever and Chikungunya are rampant diseases in Latin America. The one thing these three ailments have in common is the mosquito that carries them - Aedes Aegypti. The Aedes mosquito spreads all three illnesses across borders with indifference to those they affect. Operation Blessing is launching a full offensive against the mosquito using a method readily found in nature - fish and turtles. Both are natural predators of the mosquito larvae and their implementation into the average Central American household could save many lives.

Penn State faculty member, Jason Rasgon, discusses what is known and what we still need to learn about the ongoing Zika virus outbreak.

beGIANT Advertainment gathers renowned musicians for “Children Against Zika” project. Important names of Brazilian music, such as André Abujamra, Zeca Baleiro and Arnaldo Antunes, have created children’s songs to alert about zika; for each tune, an animated music video. The agency beGIANT Advertainment (together with Propeg) has created the project “Children Against Zika”. The educational content was developed for the Brazilian Ministry of Health. It gathers seven renowned musicians and the filmmaker Baboo Matsusaki, who signs the opening and the ending of the movie “Boy and the World”, a 2016 Oscar nominee (in the Animated Feature Film category). With curatorship of André Abujamra, beGIANT – agency owned by Felipe Barahona (CEO) and Guga Lemes (CCO) – has invited Zeca Baleiro, Arnaldo Antunes, Xis, Marisa Orth, Hélio Ziskind and Palavra Cantada to write children’s songs in order to inform Brazilians about the zika virus. Each song has a different animated music video, with one of these techniques: cordel (a regional type of Brazilian art), 2D, 3D, cubism, collage and stop motion. The six music videos are weekly launched by the TV channel SBT, as part of its children’s shows (SBT is the most watched TV channel among children in Brazil). Besides the music videos, short documentaries were developed; in these films, the musicians explain their creation processes. The TV show will also keep a fan page on Facebook, called “Crianças Contra Zika” (“Children Against Zika”). The project will have an electronic album, with all six songs. It will be displayed by more than a hundred streaming services and online music stores, such as iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Deezer and Apple Music. “Children Against Zika” is a coproduction of beGIANT, Daemon Filmes and Santa Rita Filmes. The producer Mondo is in charge of the music direction. The animated music videos are directed by Baboo Matsusaki, and the short documentaries, by Luciano Oreggia. Song: “The Hateful Aedes Aegypti” (Zeca Baleiro) My name is Mosquito The Hateful Aedes Aegypti My name is Mosquito The Hateful Aedes Aegypti I’m tender and dangerous My bite is pure evil I transmit three viruses There’s nothing like me Zika, dengue fever and chikungunya With them I can let you down You can’t catch me with your hand Don’t even try to complain I live in breeding grounds Rainwater, puddle and glass If you don’t want me to bite you It’s better not to let me live My name is Mosquito The Hateful Aedes Aegypti My name is Mosquito The Hateful Aedes Aegypti Don’t keep standing water around Clean all your backyard Don’t let the mosquito stay alive If it lets you so down Don’t keep standing water around Clean all your backyard Don’t let the mosquito stay alive If it lets you so down My name is Mosquito The Hateful Aedes Aegypti My name is Mosquito The Hateful Aedes Aegypti I’m tender and dangerous My bite is pure evil I transmit three viruses There’s nothing like me About beGIANT beGIANT is the first advertainment agency in Brazil. Founded in 2013, the company has cases with brands such as Alpargatas, Coca-Cola and Volkswagen. It has also won important international awards, including El Ojo (Argentine) and Cristal (France). Credits Title: Children Against Zika Original idea: beGIANT Advertainment Client: Brazilian Ministry of Health Creation: Guga Lemes, Marianne Bechara and Joca Prado Creative direction: Guga Lemes Planning: Felipe Barahona and Edson Campos Strategy: Propeg Executive director (Propeg): Renata Sánchez Account director (Propeg): Duda Guedes Account executive (Propeg): Jack Júnior Curatorship: André Abujamra Music direction: Mondo Song writers: André Abujamra, Zeca Baleiro, Hélio Ziskind, Arnaldo Antunes, Xis, Marisa Orth, Palavra Cantada, Marcio Nigro and Carlos Careqa Music production: André Abujamra and Marcio Nigro Executive production (songs): Andréa dos Santos Coproduction of animation: beGIANT Advertainment and Daemon Filmes Coproduction of documentary: beGIANT Advertainment and Santa Rita Filmes Executive production (documentaries): Marcelo Braga Documentary direction: Luciano Oreggia Documentary production: Viviane Rezende Animated direction: Baboo Matsusaki Animated co-direction: Baboo Matsusaki, Toten Dias, Priscila Limonta, Henrique “EDMX” Montanari and Isabella Papa Animated production: Andréa Barretto Approval (client): Walter Vasconcellos and Cibele Hoisel

With the help of Nexus Motion (Brograph!), I created these PSAs for the Virginia Department of Health, to provide info on the Zika Virus.

The biomedical visualization studio Visual Science has created the first scientifically accurate 3D model of the Zika virus at atomic resolution. The model is based on the latest scientific research into the structure of Zika and related viruses such as Dengue, West Nile, and yellow fever. It's the most accurate model of the Zika viral particle currently available. To produce it, Visual Science employed the same techniques of structural bioinformatics used in basic research and drug development. The model reflects scientists' current understanding of the virus's architecture. It includes 360 distinct surface protein structures, the lipid envelope, and the likely structure of genetic material in complex with capsid proteins. Previews of the model are attached to this e-mail. Short video fragments, an interactive web application are available upon request. The Zika virus model was created by scientists and CGI specialists at Visual Science, a world leader in scientific visualization that specializes in micro- and nanoscopic objects and processes.