Bernardo-Menezes LC, Agrelli A, Oliveira ASLED, Moura RRD, Crovella S, Brandão LAC. An overview of Zika virus genotypes and their infectivity.
Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2022;
55:e02632022. [PMID:
36197380 PMCID:
PMC9536801 DOI:
10.1590/0037-8682-0263-2022]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is an enveloped, single-stranded RNA arbovirus belonging to the
genus Flavivirus. It was first isolated from a sentinel monkey
in Uganda in 1947. More recently, ZIKV has undergone rapid geographic expansion
and has been responsible for outbreaks in Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands,
and America. In this review, we have highlighted the influence of viral genetic
variants on ZIKV pathogenesis. Two major ZIKV genotypes (African and Asian) have
been identified. The Asian genotype is subdivided into Southwest Asia, Pacific
Island, and American strains, and is responsible for most outbreaks.
Non-synonymous mutations in ZIKV proteins C, prM, E, NS1, NS2A, NS2B, NS3, and
NS4B were found to have a higher prevalence and association with virulent
strains of the Asian genotype. Consequently, the Asian genotype appears to have
acquired higher cellular permissiveness, tissue persistence, and viral tropism
in human neural cells. Therefore, mutations in specific coding regions of the
Asian genotype may enhance ZIKV infectivity. Considering that mutations in the
genomes of emerging viruses may lead to new virulent variants in humans, there
is a potential for the re-emergence of new ZIKV cases in the future.
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