UTMB researchers working with scientist in China and Belgium have developed a tool that will create a version of the Zika virus stripped of the genes that make it infectious. Called a replicon system, this will make working with the virus safer, among other things. "One of these replicons can be used to locate portions of the viral molecule that block or halt viral replication, making it a powerful tool for vaccine development,” said UTMB’s Pei-Yong Shi. This news also reported in Galveston.com, CIDRAP and Homeland Preparedness News.