Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Tania T. T. Herrera, Idalina Cubilla-Batista, Amador Goodridge, Tiago V. V. Pereira
Summary: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of prenatal imaging for diagnosing congenital Zika syndrome. After a comprehensive analysis of 18 studies, it was found that ultrasound can improve the diagnostic accuracy of Zika virus infection in pregnant women. However, the current evidence is still uncertain and larger, properly conducted studies are needed.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Adeolu Aromolaran, Katiaci Araujo, Joseph B. Ladines-Lim, Nivison Nery Jr, Mateus S. do Rosario, Valmir N. Rastely Jr, Gracinda Archanjo, Dina Daltro, Gustavo Baltazar da Silveira Carvalho, Kleber Pimentel, Joao Ricardo Maltez de Almeida, Isadora Cristina de Siqueira, Hugo C. Ribeiro, Jamary Oliveira-Filho, Daiana de Oliveira, Daniele F. Henriques, Sueli G. Rodrigues, Pedro F. da Costa Vasconcelos, Antonio R. P. de Almeida, Gielson A. Sacramento, Jaqueline S. Cruz, Manoel Sarno, Bruno de Paula Freitas, Adriana Mattos, Ricardo Khouri, Mitermayer G. Reis, Albert I. Ko, Federico Costa
Summary: This study describes the differences in clinical presentation and disease burden of congenital Zika syndrome-associated microcephaly between two hospitals in Salvador, Brazil, which serve patients of different socioeconomic status. The results show that pregnant women at a low socioeconomic status hospital had a higher rate of Zika virus exposure compared to women at a high socioeconomic status hospital. However, after controlling for maternal Zika virus exposure, both hospitals had similar prevalence of infants with CZS-associated microcephaly.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Eric Osoro, Irene Inwani, Cyrus Mugo, Elizabeth Hunsperger, Jennifer R. Verani, Victor Omballa, Dalton Wamalwa, Chulwoo Rhee, Ruth Nduati, John Kinuthia, Hafsa Jin, Lydia Okutoyi, Dufton Mwaengo, Brian Maugo, Nancy A. Otieno, Harriet Mirieri, Mufida Shabibi, Peninah Munyua, M. Kariuki Njenga, Marc-Alain Widdowson
Summary: The incidence of Zika virus infection was high in a pregnancy cohort in coastal Kenya, but there was little evidence of Zika virus transmission. The prevalence of severe microcephaly among newborns was higher compared to estimates from facility-based studies in Europe and Latin America.
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Lavinia Schuler-Faccini, Miguel del Campo, Alfredo Garcia-Alix, Liana O. Ventura, Juliano Andre Boquett, Vanessa van der Linden, Andre Pessoa, Helio van der Linden Junior, Camila V. Ventura, Mariana Carvalho Leal, Thayne Woycinck Kowalski, Lais Rodrigues Gerzson, Carla Skilhan de Almeida, Lucelia Santi, Walter O. Beys-da-Silva, Andre Quincozes-Santos, Jorge A. Guimaraes, Patricia P. Garcez, Julia do Amaral Gomes, Fernanda Sales Luiz Vianna, Andre Anjos da Silva, Lucas Rosa Fraga, Maria Teresa Vieira Sanseverino, Alysson R. Muotri, Rafael Lopes da Rosa, Alberto Mantovani Abeche, Clairton Marcolongo-Pereira, Diogo O. Souza
Summary: This article reviews the identification of Zika virus as a human teratogen and its effects on congenital Zika syndrome (CZS). This syndrome is characterized by severe motor, cognitive, and language impairments, particularly in the form of cerebral palsy. However, some children may exhibit milder deficits, and those born without brain or eye abnormalities can have normal neurodevelopment. Vertical transmission and disruption in brain development are less frequent when maternal infection occurs in the second half of pregnancy. Experimental studies indicate the possibility of other behavioral outcomes in prenatally infected children, as well as in postnatal and adult infections. The development of CZS is influenced by various factors, including genetics, environment, nutrition, and social determinants.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Qin Hui Li, Kenneth Kim, Sujan Shresta
Summary: Seven years after the onset of the Zika virus epidemic, longitudinal studies have shown that children infected in utero without severe birth defects exhibit motor skill deficits at up to 3 years of age. The long-term health and socioeconomic impacts of fetal Zika virus infection seem inevitable. In the absence of vaccines or antivirals, small animal models of Zika virus transmission are essential to test antiviral strategies and understand the mechanisms of immunity at the maternal-fetal interface. The review discusses the current state of Zika virus transplacental transmission models, highlights key unanswered questions, and sets goals for the next generation of mouse models.
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Nicholas P. Krabbe, Elaina Razo, Hunter J. Abraham, Rachel V. Spanton, Yujia Shi, Saswati Bhattacharya, Ellie K. Bohm, Julia C. Pritchard, Andrea M. Weiler, Ann M. Mitzey, Jens C. Eickhoff, Eric Sullivan, John C. Tan, Matthew T. Aliota, Thomas C. Friedrich, David H. O'Connor, Thaddeus G. Golos, Emma L. Mohr
Summary: The magnitude and breadth of the maternal antibody response do not seem to impact maternal virologic control. However, higher antibody titers may be associated with poor control of infection and could be used as a biomarker.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sumit Sen Santara, Angela C. Crespo, Sachin Mulik, Cristian Ovies, Selma Boulenouar, Jack L. Strominger, Judy Lieberman
Summary: Zika virus infection during pregnancy can lead to placental damage and fetal birth defects, with limited understanding of the cellular immune response at the maternal-fetal interface. Research has shown that dNK cells in the first trimester are able to kill Zika virus-infected trophoblasts, indicating that certain immune cells protect the fetus by eliminating infected cells.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jonathan Turpin, Daed El Safadi, Gregorie Lebeau, Morgane Krejbich, Camille Chatelain, Philippe Despres, Wildriss Viranaicken, Pascale Krejbich-Trotot
Summary: Cell death by apoptosis is a major cellular response in the control of tissue homeostasis and viral clearance. This study focuses on the interplay between Zika virus (ZIKV) infection and apoptosis in different cell types, and how the virus deals with this cellular response. The effects of ZIKV-controlled apoptosis are dual, depending on the timing and context, and understanding this interplay may have implications for ZIKV-related therapies and the use of ZIKV as an oncolytic agent.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Virology
Catarina Sabino, Daniela Bender, Marie-Luise Herrlein, Eberhard Hildt
Summary: Research has shown the relevance of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the early stages of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection and its potential as a target for antiviral strategies. Inhibition of EGFR or downstream signaling pathways can prevent ZIKV entry into host cells, offering a new approach for preventing the spread of ZIKV infection in epidemic outbreaks.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Zi-Da Zhen, Na Wu, Dong-Ying Fan, Jun-Hong Ai, Zheng-Ran Song, Jia-Tong Chang, Pei-Gang Wang, Yan-Hua Wu, Jing An
Summary: Zika virus infection can lead to microcephaly and neurological symptoms, early administration of growth hormone can improve cognitive function in mice, and growth hormone effectively reduces brain damage by decreasing cell apoptosis and inflammatory response instead of inhibiting viral replication.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrew Kodani, Kristeene A. Knopp, Elizabeth Di Lullo, Hanna Retallack, Arnold R. Kriegstein, Joseph L. DeRisi, Jeremy F. Reiter
Summary: ZIKV infection disrupts centrosome organization and affects the localization and stability of centrosomal proteins, as well as the function of regulators of the innate immune response, thereby tempering the immune response.
Article
Virology
Shili Zhou, Quanshi Lin, Xu Tian, Chao Liu, Ping Zhang
Summary: The study shows that rottlerin has broad antiviral activity against several enveloped viruses, including Zika virus. It can disrupt viral replication and maturation. In mouse experiments, it reduces Zika virus replication and alleviates neurological symptoms.
Article
Virology
Rita T. Patel, Brennan M. Gallamoza, Praveen Kulkarni, Morgan L. Sherer, Nicole A. Haas, Elise Lemanski, Ibrahim Malik, Khan Hekmatyar, Mark S. Parcells, Jaclyn M. Schwarz
Summary: A rat model of maternal Zika virus infection with MRI imaging was used to study the long-term neurological consequences of prenatal Zika virus infection. The study found altered brain development in Zika virus-infected rats and suggested that maternal immune activation may play a role in altered brain growth. The introduction of manual and automated atlas-based segmentation for neonatal and juvenile rat brains is effective in detecting significant changes in neurodevelopment.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Marion Rother, Christiane Dimmler, Friderike Weege, Hans-Joachim Mollenkopf, Thomas F. Meyer, Michael Naumann
Summary: Emerging mosquito-borne RNA viruses, such as the Zika virus, have caused significant health complications globally. The lack of antiviral therapy and vaccination has led to a focus on investigating ZIKV-host interactions to understand molecular infection mechanisms. A method for analyzing ZIKV host dependency factors has been established, with potential to identify essential factors for placental infection as targets for antiviral treatment.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGICAL METHODS
(2021)
Article
Virology
Nicole R. Sexton, Eric D. Bellis, Reyes A. Murrieta, Mark Cole Spangler, Parker J. Cline, James Weger-Lucarelli, Gregory D. Ebel
Summary: This research reveals a novel mechanism of Zika virus transmission through multigenome aggregates, providing insights into viral evolution, immunological evasion, and future therapeutic design. The study demonstrates that Zika virus plaques result from collections of genomes rather than individual genomes, increasing the potential for interactions between different Zika virus genotypes.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)