Integrated re-analysis of transcriptomic and proteomic datasets reveals potential mechanisms for Zika viral-based

Matt Sherwood1, Yilu Zhou1, Yi Sui1

  • 1School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, England, SO17 1BJ, UK.

F1000Research
|June 21, 2024
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Zika virus (ZIKV) shows promise for treating paediatric neuroblastoma by selectively infecting and killing cancer cells. Research highlights ZIKV

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Paediatric neuroblastoma and brain tumours are leading causes of childhood cancer mortality.
  • High-risk neuroblastoma has poor survival rates despite aggressive treatments.
  • Novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed for these aggressive childhood cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential of Zika virus (ZIKV) as an oncolytic therapy against paediatric neuroblastoma.
  • To identify molecular mechanisms underlying ZIKV's oncolytic activity in neuroblastoma cells.
  • To evaluate the susceptibility of neuroblastoma cell lines to ZIKV infection.

Main Methods:

  • Extensive data mining and re-analysis of published ZIKV infection datasets.
  • Collation of infection data from multiple neuroblastoma cell lines and ZIKV strains.
  • Integration of transcriptomics, proteomics, dependency factor, and compound datasets.

Main Results:

  • Most paediatric neuroblastoma cell lines are highly susceptible to ZIKV infection.
  • The PRVABC59 ZIKV strain is identified as a promising candidate for oncolytic virotherapy.
  • ZIKV modulates TNF signalling, lipid metabolism, and the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR), while downregulating cell cycle and DNA replication.
  • ZIKV infection relies on SREBP-regulated lipid metabolism and specific protein complexes (V-ATPase, EMC, mammalian translocon).
  • ZIKV non-structural protein 4B (NS4B) is proposed as a key mediator of ZIKV's interaction with host cell machinery.

Conclusions:

  • This study enhances understanding of ZIKV infection in neuroblastoma cells.
  • Findings facilitate the advancement of ZIKV-based oncolytic virotherapy towards clinical application.
  • ZIKV represents a potential novel therapeutic avenue for paediatric nervous system tumours.