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Viruses
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Zika Virus: An Emerging Flavivirus
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Zika Virus: An Emerging Flavivirus

A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "General Virology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 9060

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Pedro Fernando da Costa Vasconcelos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Patologia, Universidade do Estado do Pará (UEPA), Belém, Pará, Brazil
Interests: arboviruses; zoonotic viruses; epidemiology; pathogenesis; laboratory diagnosis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging arthropod-borne virus that in recent years has caused a large epidemic of microcephaly and other neurological disorders, especially in infants, but also in adults. Although much was achieved during the epidemic, many aspects of biology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, physiopathology and vaccine development remain to be clarified. In this Special Issue of Viruses, we will focus on these and other approaches in order to better understand ZIKV and the consequences of its emergence around the world, but particularly in the Americas, where the impact of the epidemic was tremendous and has affected many public health systems in Latin America, but also in Asia and North America. Therefore, the main objective of this Special Issue is to collect papers of high quality focusing on epidemiologic trends, pathogenesis and physiopathological aspects, the current situation regarding vaccine candidates, and prevention measures to tackle a possible emergence of ZIKV in tropical regions, and particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Dr. Pedro V. Vasconcelos
Guest Editor

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 4177 KiB  
Article
Proposal of Model for Evaluation of Viral Kinetics of African/Asian/Brazilian—Zika virus Strains (Step Growth Curve) in Trophoblastic Cell Lines
by Márcia Duarte Barbosa, Anderson Costa, Paula Prieto-Oliveira, Robert Andreata-Santos, Cristina M. Peter, Paolo M. A. Zanotto and Luiz Mario Ramos Janini
Viruses 2023, 15(7), 1446; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15071446 - 27 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1665
Abstract
The Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic brought new discoveries regarding arboviruses, especially flaviviruses, as ZIKV was described as sexually and vertically transmitted. The latter shows severe consequences for the embryo/fetus, such as congenital microcephaly and deficiency of the neural system, currently known as Congenital [...] Read more.
The Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic brought new discoveries regarding arboviruses, especially flaviviruses, as ZIKV was described as sexually and vertically transmitted. The latter shows severe consequences for the embryo/fetus, such as congenital microcephaly and deficiency of the neural system, currently known as Congenital ZIKV Syndrome (CZS). To better understand ZIKV dynamics in trophoblastic cells present in the first trimester of pregnancy (BeWo, HTR-8, and control cell HuH-7), an experiment of viral kinetics was performed for African MR766 low passage and Asian-Brazilian IEC ZIKV lineages. The results were described independently and demonstrated that the three placental cells lines are permissive and susceptible to ZIKV. We noticed cytopathic effects that are typical in in vitro viral infection in BeWo and HTR-8. Regarding kinetics, MR766lp showed peaks of viral loads in 24 and 48 hpi for all cell types tested, as well as marked cells death after peak production. On the other hand, the HTR-8 lineage inoculated with ZIKV-IEC exhibited increased viral production in 144 hpi, with a peak between 24 and 96 hpi. Furthermore, IEC had peak variations of viral production for BeWo in 144 hpi. Considering such in vitro results, the hypothesis that maternal fetal transmission is probably a way of virus transmission between the mother and the embryo/fetus is maintained. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zika Virus: An Emerging Flavivirus)
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21 pages, 5129 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Expression and Function of cTyro3, a Candidate Zika Virus Receptor, in the Embryonic Chicken Brain and Inner Ear
by Vashi Negi, Richard J. Kuhn and Donna M. Fekete
Viruses 2023, 15(1), 247; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15010247 - 15 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2144
Abstract
The transmembrane protein Axl was proposed as an entry receptor for Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in vitro, but conflicting results from in vivo studies have made it difficult to establish Axl as a physiologically relevant ZIKV receptor. Both the functional redundancy of receptors [...] Read more.
The transmembrane protein Axl was proposed as an entry receptor for Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in vitro, but conflicting results from in vivo studies have made it difficult to establish Axl as a physiologically relevant ZIKV receptor. Both the functional redundancy of receptors and the experimental model used can lead to variable results. Therefore, it can be informative to explore alternative animal models to analyze ZIKV receptor candidates as an aid in discovering antivirals. This study used chicken embryos to examine the role of chicken Tyro3 (cTyro3), the equivalent of human Axl. Results show that endogenous cTyro3 mRNA expression overlaps with previously described hot spots of ZIKV infectivity in the brain and inner ear. We asked if ectopic expression or knockdown of cTyro3 influenced ZIKV infection in embryos. Tol2 vectors or replication-competent avian retroviruses were used in ovo to introduce full-length or truncated (presumed dominant-negative) cTyro3, respectively, into the neural tube on embryonic day two (E2). ZIKV was delivered to the brain 24 h later. cTyro3 manipulations did not alter ZIKV infection or cell death in the E5/E6 brain. Moreover, delivery of truncated cTyro3 variants to the E3 otocyst had no effect on inner ear formation on E6 or E10. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zika Virus: An Emerging Flavivirus)
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13 pages, 1188 KiB  
Article
Maternal Immune Response to ZIKV Triggers High-Inflammatory Profile in Congenital Zika Syndrome
by Eder M. S. Fialho, Emanoel M. Veras, Caroline M. de Jesus, Ricardo Khouri, Patrícia S. Sousa, Marizelia R. C. Ribeiro, Luciana C. Costa, Líllian N. Gomes, Flávia R. F. Nascimento, Antônio A. M. Silva and Paulo V. Soeiro-Pereira
Viruses 2023, 15(1), 220; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15010220 - 13 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2095
Abstract
The immunological mechanisms involved in the development of congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) have yet to be fully clarified. This study aims to assess the immuno-inflammatory profile of mothers and their children who have been diagnosed with CZS. Blood samples, which were confirmed clinically [...] Read more.
The immunological mechanisms involved in the development of congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) have yet to be fully clarified. This study aims to assess the immuno-inflammatory profile of mothers and their children who have been diagnosed with CZS. Blood samples, which were confirmed clinically using the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT), were collected from children with CZS and their mothers (CZS+ group). Samples were also collected from children who did not develop CZS and had a negative PRNT result and from their mothers (CZS- group). The data demonstrated a correlation between the leukocyte profile of CZS+ children and their mothers, more evident in monocytes. Monocytes from mothers of CZS+ children showed low expression of HLA and elevated hydrogen peroxide production. CZS+ children presented standard HLA expression and a higher hydrogen peroxide concentration than CZS- children. Monocyte superoxide dismutase activity remained functional. Moreover, when assessing the monocyte polarization, it was observed that there was no difference in nitrite concentrations; however, there was a decrease in arginase activity in CZS+ children. These data suggest that ZIKV infection induces a maternal immuno-inflammatory background related to the child’s inflammatory response after birth, possibly affecting the development and progression of congenital Zika syndrome. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zika Virus: An Emerging Flavivirus)
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14 pages, 2133 KiB  
Article
Evidence of RedOX Imbalance during Zika Virus Infection Promoting the Formation of Disulfide-Bond-Dependent Oligomers of the Envelope Protein
by Grégorie Lebeau, Jonathan Turpin, Etienne Frumence, Daed El Safadi, Wissal Harrabi, Philippe Desprès, Pascale Krejbich-Trotot and Wildriss Viranaïcken
Viruses 2022, 14(6), 1131; https://doi.org/10.3390/v14061131 - 24 May 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2455
Abstract
Flaviviruses replicate in membrane factories associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Significant levels of flavivirus viral protein accumulation contribute to ER stress. As a consequence, the host cell exhibits an Unfolded Protein Response (UPR), subsequently stimulating appropriate cellular responses such as adaptation, autophagy [...] Read more.
Flaviviruses replicate in membrane factories associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Significant levels of flavivirus viral protein accumulation contribute to ER stress. As a consequence, the host cell exhibits an Unfolded Protein Response (UPR), subsequently stimulating appropriate cellular responses such as adaptation, autophagy or apoptosis. The correct redox conditions of this compartment are essential to forming native disulfide bonds in proteins. Zika virus (ZIKV) has the ability to induce persistent ER stress leading to the activation of UPR pathways. In this study, we wondered whether ZIKV affects the redox balance and consequently the oxidative protein folding in the ER. We found that ZIKV replication influences the redox state, leading to the aggregation of the viral envelope protein as amyloid-like structures in the infected cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zika Virus: An Emerging Flavivirus)
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