In a Medical Twist, Zika Virus Could Become a Weapon Against Brain Cancer [Video]

A mosquito-borne disease best known for causing severe cranial deformities in babies may someday become humanity’s ally. Duke University scientists and others have created a weakened version of the Zika virus that could potentially be repurposed into a treatment for often fatal brain cancer. In lab experiments, their virus appeared to target and kill off tumor cells while largely leaving healthy cells alone.

Zikahas been known since the 1940s, but it’s only recently that it’s received much attention. Previously only documented in parts of Africa and Asia as an occasional cause of fever, the virus began to rapidly spread across the Americas in 2015, sparking large-scale outbreaks in countries including Brazil. While most cases of Zika infection cause no or mild symptoms, these outbreaks led to the discovery that the virus can be transmitted from mother to …