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Serum Metabolic Alterations upon Zika Infection
Carlos Fernando O R Melo1, Jeany Delafiori1, Diogo N de Oliveira1
1INNOVARE Biomarkers Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
Frontiers in Microbiology
|October 26, 2017
Summary
Zika virus (ZIKV) infection impacts the nervous system and can be diagnosed using mass spectrometry. Researchers identified biomarkers like Angiotensin and Ganglioside GM2, offering potential therapeutic targets for ZIKV management.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Zika virus (ZIKV) poses a global health threat, linked to fetal nervous system malformations like microcephaly.
- ZIKV transmission routes include mosquito bites, sexual contact, and biological fluid exchange, complicating diagnosis.
- Understanding ZIKV infection mechanisms is crucial for developing diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify biomarkers in blood plasma for ZIKV infection.
- To elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms of ZIKV infection.
- To explore potential therapeutic targets for ZIKV management.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of blood plasma from 79 subjects (control and ZIKV-infected) using direct-infusion mass spectrometry.
- Statistical analysis to identify and characterize infection-related markers.
- Investigated the role of identified markers in ZIKV pathogenesis.
Main Results:
- Eight biomarkers associated with ZIKV infection were identified.
- Angiotensin (1-7) and Angiotensin I were upregulated, suggesting an attempt to induce autophagy.
- Ganglioside GM2 and phosphatidylinositols were identified as key biomarkers, highlighting their role in ZIKV's brain tropism and the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway.
Conclusions:
- Identified biomarkers offer potential for improved ZIKV diagnosis and hemoderivative screening.
- Upregulation of Angiotensin suggests a complex host response, with implications for hypertensive patients on RAS inhibitors.
- Gangliosides and the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway are critical in ZIKV infection, presenting potential targets for pharmacological intervention.
