Recent progresses and remaining challenges for the detection of Zika virus

Abstract

Zika virus (ZIKV) has emerged as a particularly notorious mosquito‐borne flavivirus, which can lead to a devastating congenital syndrome in the fetuses of pregnant mothers (e.g., microcephaly, spasticity, craniofacial disproportion, miscarriage, and ocular abnormalities) and cause the autoimmune disorder Guillain‐Barre' syndrome of adults. Due to its severity and rapid dispersal over several continents, ZIKV has been acknowledged to be a global health concern by the World Health Organization. Unfortunately, the ZIKV has recently resurged in India with the potential for devastating effects. Researchers from all around the world have worked tirelessly to develop effective detection strategies and vaccines for the prevention and control of ZIKV infection. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the most recent research into ZIKV, including the structural biology and evolution, historical overview, pathogenesis, symptoms, and transmission. We then focus on the detection strategies for ZIKV, including viral isolation, serological assays, molecular assays, sensing methods, reverse transcription loop mediated isothermal amplification, transcription‐mediated amplification technology, reverse transcription strand invasion based amplification, bioplasmonic paper‐based device, and reverse transcription isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification. To conclude, we examine the limitations of currently available strategies for the detection of ZIKV, and outline future opportunities and research challenges.

A review exploring the overarching burden of Zika virus with emphasis on epidemiological case studies from Brazil

“…Mosquitoes are known as the most crucial carriers of ZIKV. The virus can be transmitted via the saliva of the mosquitoes and infects other hosts (Zhang et al 2021 ). Several factors affect the transmission of ZIKV including environmental conditions that define the suitability of the parameters to sustain mosquitoes, as well as anthropogenic and socioeconomic conditions that may promote favorable environmental breeding sites for mosquitoes.…”

“…ZIKV can be transmitted through vectors, as well as other non-vector modes via unprotected sexual contact and blood transfusions (Lowe et al 2018 ) and by modes of vertical transmission from a pregnant woman to her fetus (Osorio-de-Castro et al 2017 ). The infection may be asymptomatic as well as symptomatic with the latter being commonly accompanied with fever, headache, rash, arthralgia, conjunctivitis, and myalgia (Zhang et al 2021 ). ZIKV infection is also associated with major viral diseases including dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and neglected tropical diseases.…”

“…Vélez and Diniz ( 2016 ) indicated that ZIKV is also related to reproductive health since it has an effect on fetal development causing microcephaly. The detection of the virus can be done by many methods including PT-PCR, MAC-ELISA/PRNT recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as serological and molecular assays that have some limitations (Zhang et al 2021 ).…”

Zika Virus Induces Sex-Dependent Metabolic Changes in Drosophila melanogaster to Promote Viral Replication

“…With World Health Organization (WHO) scientists confirming recent outbreaks of Zika virus (ZIKV) in India, investigating and understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying immune responses against ZIKV have become ever more urgent ( 1 , 2 ). Zika, a single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus and a member of the Flaviviridae family, is transmitted to humans primarily by the infected Aedes mosquito species ( Ae .…”

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy as a Potential COVID-19 Early Detection Method: A Review and Future Perspective

“…Nowadays, many countries impose a lockdown where individuals are instructed to bide at home and movement is restricted in order to break the chain of infection. Since no effective treatments are provided for COVID-19, the number of deaths globally is anticipated to rise [3,4]. The available vaccines have created some degree of confidence and many countries have started administering them [5].…”