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title: Zika Virus&#x27; Structure Determined for the First Time
description: Purdue University researchers announced a major breakthrough Thursday, becoming the first team to determine the structure of the Zika virus
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# Zika Virus' Structure Determined for the First Time

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by 

[Tracy Jarrett/NBC](https://time.com/author/nbc-news/)


## Tracy Jarrett/NBC


Apr 1, 2016 12:30 AM UTC

by 

[Tracy Jarrett/NBC](https://time.com/author/nbc-news/)


## Tracy Jarrett/NBC


Apr 1, 2016 12:30 AM UTC

Researchers from Purdue University announced a major breakthrough Thursday, becoming the first team to determine the structure of the Zika virus.

The groundbreaking discovery reveals insights that are critical to finding an effective antiviral treatment or vaccine for the virus.

The team, which published a paper on their findings in the journal Science, also identified regions within the Zika virus that set it apart from other insect-borne viruses such as dengue, West Nile, and yellow fever.

“The structure of the virus provides a map that shows potential regions of the virus that could be targeted by a therapeutic treatment, used …”

[Read the rest of the story at NBC News](http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/zika-virus-outbreak/whats-zika-look-virus-structure-determined-first-time-n548746?cid=par-time%5F20160331).

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