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E-Portfolio Project: Zika Virus

E-Portfolio Project: Zika Virus

Priscilla Prem
Old Dominion University

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E-Portfolio Project: Zika Virus
The Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted flavivirus that is related to yellow fever and the
West Nile virus. It was originally isolated in the Zika forest of Uganda in 1947 but recently
received attention in the western hemisphere after its introduction to Brazil in 2014. Although the
virus is rarely lethal, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued an international public health
emergency concerning the virus because of its link to birth defects (McNeil, Saint Louis, & St.
Fleur, 2016).
The virus has a positive, single-stranded RNA genome (+ssRNA) and encodes for messenger
RNA (mRNA) and protein (Definition of Positive-strand RNA virus, 2012).

(Beck et al., 2013)

The genome of the virus is surprisingly simple, especially when compared to that of a human.
The 5 untranslated region (UTR) contains a methylated nucleotide cap to initiate translation.
The structural portion of the strand consists of capsid, the membrane precursor, and envelope
proteins. Following these are a series of non-structural proteins. NS3 codes for protease and
NS5 codes for polymerase. The functions of the other proteins are still unknown. The 3 (UTR)
forms a secondary structure and forms a subgenomic flavivirus RNA (sfRNA) (Zika Virus,
n.d.). The non-coding sfRNA is an 85 nucleotide stem loop structure that is thought to be
responsible for neurological conditions associated with the Zika virus (Ricketson & LyonsWeiler, 2016). They are anti-innate immune molecules that suppress interferon response and
counter immune mechanisms (Weaver et al., 2016).
The capsid is enclosed by portions of the host membrane and two glycoproteins, one of which is
the envelope protein (E) that allows the virus to attach to the hose membrane and initiate
replication (Racaniello, 2016). Glycoproteins are proteins that are attached to sugars. They are
commonly found in membranes and play a crucial role in cell-to-cell interactions. Viruses use
glycoproteins in order infiltrate cells and move about freely (Noiva, 2004).
The replication process begins when the envelope protein (E) attaches to the host receptors. The
virus then fuses itself with the hosts phospholipid bilayer membrane and will later bud off to
create its own envelope. The Zika RNA is then released into the cytoplasm in mammals (nucleus
in insects) and is translated into a polyprotein that codes for the structural and non-structural
portions of the genome. Replication occurs on the endoplasmic reticulum via the cytoplasmic
viral factories. These replicated +ssRNAs are synthesized to create double-stranded RNAs
(dsRNA). DsRNAs are then transcribed and replicated to produce more +ssRNA and viral
mRNA. The protein components of the virus are then assembled and new virion buds off from
the membrane. The membrane precursor protein is cleaved post-translationally when the virion is

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E-Portfolio Project: Zika Virus
transported to the golgi apparatus. The new virion is then released into other areas of the host by
exocytois (Zika Virus, n.d.).
The main target of the virus is skin cells. Common symptoms of the Zika virus include fever,
rash, joint pain, and red eyes. Since the most common symptoms affect the skin, it makes sense
that the virus most commonly effects the skin. However, most people will not experience
symptoms so it is difficult to diagnose. Symptoms only last for a few to days to several weeks
and the host will then be protected from future infections. In fact, those most impacted by the
virus are unborn children due to their linkage to birth defects (Zika Virus, 2016).
The most concerning of the potential birth defects is microcephaly. Microcephaly is a condition
where a babys head is dramatically smaller than normal. It usually occurs because the brain does
not fully develop causing the skull to remain small. Some other problems associated with the
defect include developmental delays, intellectual disability, and hearing loss due to an
underdeveloped brain (Facts about Microcephaly, 2016).
Pregnant women who have traveled to a location where the Zika virus is prevalent are at higher
risk to have a child with microcephaly. Studies show that women who have traveled to areas with
a Zika virus outbreak and who have children with microcephaly exhibit Zika RNA in their
amniotic fluid (Teixeira, Costa, Oliveira, Nunes, & Rodrigues, 2016).
Some scientists believe that abnormalities in the central nervous system are caused by the Zika
virus and contribute to microcephaly. The virus has been known to infect animal neurons and
other members of the flavivirus family are able to infect neurons as well (Teixeira et al., 2016).
There is also new, solid evidence that Zika preferentially targets developing brain cells. Two
research groups independently showed that the virus infected neural stem cells. In one trial, the
virus infected 85% of the neural progenitors tested. However, when applied to other kinds of
cells, such as fetal kidney and embryonic stem cells, the infection rate was substantially lower at
10%. The neural progenitors infected did not immediately die. Instead, the Zika virus overtook
the cells and used them as vessels for replication. The infected cells developed slower and had
interrupted cell division cycles, contributing to the theory that Zika causes microcephaly though
neural stem cell infection (Vogel, 2016). Although further testing is needed in order to confirm
these studies, this new evidence is shedding light on the mechanisms of how the virus works in
order to start developing a cure.

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E-Portfolio Project: Zika Virus
Bibliography
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Lecollinet, S. (2013, November 12). Organisation of the flavivirus genome [Digital
image]. Retrieved April 10, 2016, from http://www.mdpi.com/ijerph/ijerph-1006049/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-10-06049-g003-1024.png
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Facts about Microcephaly. (2016, April 7). Retrieved April 10, 2016, from The Center for
Disease Control and Prevention:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/microcephaly.html
McNeil, D. G., Saint Louis, C., & St. Fleur, N. (2016, March 18). Short Answers to Hard
Questions About Zika Virus. The New York Times. Retrieved April 10, 2016, from
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/health/what-is-zika-virus.html?_r=0
Noiva, R. (2004) Glycoprotein. Chemistry: Foundations and Applications. 2004. Retrieved April
10, 2016 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G23400900223.html
Racaniello, V. (2016, January 28). Zika virus. Retrieved April 10, 2016, from
http://www.virology.ws/2016/01/28/zika-virus/
Ricketson, R., & Lyons-Weiler, J. (2016). The Zika Virus sfRNA Secondary Structure Reveals a
miR-147a Homologue that Targets Neurofascin as a Potential Cause of its Neurologic
Syndromes. Webmed Central Virology, 7(3). Retrieved April 10, 2016, from
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Teixeira, M. G., Costa, M. D., Oliveira, W. K., Nunes, M. L., & Rodrigues, L. C. (2016). The
Epidemic of Zika VirusRelated Microcephaly in Brazil: Detection, Control, Etiology,
and Future Scenarios. Am J Public Health American Journal of Public Health, 106(4),
601-605. doi:10.2105/ajph.2016.303113
ViralZone: Zika virus (strain Mr 766). (n.d.). Retrieved April 10, 2016, from
http://viralzone.expasy.org/all_by_protein/6756.html
Vogel, G. (2016, March 04). Zika virus kills developing brain cells. Retrieved April 10, 2016,
from Science: http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/03/zika-virus-kills-developingbrain-cells
Weaver, S., Costa, F., Garcia-Blanco, M. A., Co, A. I., Ribeiro, G. S., Saade, G., . . . Vasilakis,
N. (2016). Zika Virus: History, Emergence, Biology, and Prospects for Control. Antiviral
Research. doi:10.1016/j.antiviral.2016.03.010

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Zika Virus. (2016, March 11). Retrieved April 10, 2016, from The Center for Disease Control
and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html