Whole-Blood Testing for Diagnosis of Acute Zika Virus Infections in Routine Diagnostic Setting

Comparison of Zika virus quantitative reverse transcription PCR results in single timepoint whole blood–plasma pairs from 227 patients with suspected Zika virus infection resulted in confirmation of 8 additional patients with Zika virus infection.

Phylogeography and invasion history of Aedes aegypti, the Dengue and Zika mosquito vector in Cape Verde islands (West Africa)

The authors of this study performed a phylogeographic and population genetics study of A. aegypti in Cape Verde in order to infer the geographic origin and evolutionary history of this mosquito.

Assessing the Potential Interactions between Cellular miRNA and Arboviral Genomic RNA in the Yellow Fever Mosquito, Aedes aegypti

This study shows a broad picture of possible interactions between mosquito cellular miRNAs and the viral RNA of different genotypes/lineages of arboviruses, providing a list of mosquito cellular miRNAs candidates for experimental validations in future studies.

Zika virus infection: an update

Since the ZIKV outbreak in Brazil in 2015, the scientific community has joined efforts to gather more information on the epidemiology, clinical features and pathogenicity of the virus. Here, you can read a summary of the most important advances made recently and the discussion of promising, innovative approaches to understand and control ZIKV infection.

A snapshot on the impact of ZIKAlliance's scientific publications between December 2018 and April 2019

Transmission potential of African, Asian and American Zika virus strains by Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus from Guadeloupe (French West Indies)

Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes from Guadeloupe are not able to experimentally transmit ZIKV. It was also noticed better transmission of ZIKV strain from Senegal by Ae. aegypti from Guadeloupe compared to Malaysia and Martinique strains.

A computational method for the identification of Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya virus species and genotypes

In this study, the authors developed an efficient method to classify virus sequences with respect to their species and sub-species (i.e. serotype and/or genotype).

Second ZIKAlliance’s Annual Meeting in Rotterdam, 2-3 May 2019

Past and future spread of the arbovirus vectors Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus

This study offers an opportunity to strategically target surveillance and control programmes and thereby augment efforts to reduce arbovirus burden in human populations globally.

A Viral Polymerase Inhibitor Reduces Zika Virus Replication in the Reproductive Organs of Male Mice

In this study, the authors explore the potential of antivirals to serve as an effective strategy to prevent sexual transmission. The data illustrate the value of a mouse model to validate the efficacy of new potential ZIKV drugs at the level of the male reproductive system.

Zika Virus Infection Induces Elevation of Tissue Factor Production and Apoptosis on Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

In this study, the authors provide in vitro evidence that infection of HUVECs with ZIKV induces apoptosis and elevation of TF expression that leads to activation of secondary hemostasis.

The possible role of cross-reactive dengue virus antibodies in Zika virus pathogenesis

In this review, the authors summarize the results of the evidence to date and elaborate on other possible detrimental effects of cross-reactive flavivirus antibodies, both for ZIKV infection and the risk of ZIKV-related congenital anomalies, DENV infection, and dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Assessing Zika Virus Transmission Within Households During an Outbreak in Martinique, 2015–2016

This study characterized the contribution of household transmission in ZIKV epidemics, demonstrating the benefits of integrating multiple data sets to gain more insight into epidemic dynamics.

The Human Upper Respiratory Tract Epithelium Is Susceptible to Flaviviruses

Data in this study suggest that the human upper respiratory tract epithelium is a target for flaviviruses and could potentially play a role in the spread of infection to other body compartments through basolateral virus release. Further work is required to evaluate the risks and define the adapted measures to protect individuals exposed to flavivirus-contaminated body fluids.

Lipidomic Analysis Reveals Serum Alteration of Plasmalogens in Patients Infected With ZIKA Virus

Data provided in this article add important insights into specific host cellular lipids that are likely associated with ZIKV replication and may serve as platform for antiviral strategy against ZIKV.

Zika virus infection among symptomatic patients from two healthcare centers in Sao Paulo State, Brazil: prevalence, clinical characteristics, viral detection in body fluids and serodynamics

This study shows that urine ZIKV RT-PCR testing in the acute phase of infection can improve the sensitivity of diagnosis, while testing serum is probably less useful despite more sustained shedding in some cases. Higher sensitivity and specificity serological tests are needed for the diagnosis of patients who seek medical attention after the period of ZIKV detection by RT-PCR and for surveillance purposes in settings of high DENV background infection.

Scientific collaboration in Zika: identification of the leading research groups and researchers via social network analysis

This study shows that a Zika researcher’s influence is basically determined by three factors: (a) number of publications; (b) diversified partnerships; and (c) the links established with the research area’s pioneers.

SAMHD1 Enhances Chikungunya and Zika Virus Replication in Human Skin Fibroblasts

In this study, the authors determined the global proteomic profile of CHIKV and ZIKV infections in human skin fibroblasts using Stable Isotope Labelling by Amino acids in Cell culture (SILAC)-based mass-spectrometry analysis.

Endogenous non-retroviral elements in genomes of Aedes mosquitoes and vector competence

The recent discovery of endogenized elements shows that virus/vector interactions are more dynamic than previously thought, and genetic markers such as NIRVS could be one of the potential targets to reduce arbovirus transmission.

The Unfolded Protein Response: A Key Player in Zika Virus-Associated Congenital Microcephaly

The discovery of the link between ZIKV infection and UPR activation has a broader relevance, since this pathway plays a crucial role in many distinct cellular processes and its induction by ZIKV may account for several reported ZIKV-associated defects.