niman Posted February 18, 2016 Report Posted February 18, 2016 Detection and sequencing of Zika virus from amniotic fluid of fetuses with microcephaly in Brazil: a case studyGuilherme Calvet, PhD*, Renato S Aguiar, PhD*, Adriana S O Melo, PhD, Simone A Sampaio, BSc, Ivano de Filippis, PhD,Allison Fabri, BSc, Eliane S M Araujo, BSc, Patricia C de Sequeira, PhD, Marcos C L de Mendonça, PhD, Louisi de Oliveira, PhD, Diogo A Tschoeke, PhD, Carlos G Schrago, PhD, Fabiano L Thompson, PhD, Patricia Brasil, PhD, Flavia B dos Santos, PhD, Rita M R Nogueira, PhD, Prof Amilcar Tanuri, PhD†, Dr Ana M B de Filippis, PhD†*Contributed equally†Contributed equallyPublished Online: 17 February 2016 http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(16)00095-5/fulltext DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(16)00095-5
niman Posted February 18, 2016 Author Report Posted February 18, 2016 SummaryBackgroundThe incidence of microcephaly in Brazil in 2015 was 20 times higher than in previous years. Congenital microcephaly is associated with genetic factors and several causative agents. Epidemiological data suggest that microcephaly cases in Brazil might be associated with the introduction of Zika virus. We aimed to detect and sequence the Zika virus genome in amniotic fluid samples of two pregnant women in Brazil whose fetuses were diagnosed with microcephaly.MethodsIn this case study, amniotic fluid samples from two pregnant women from the state of Paraíba in Brazil whose fetuses had been diagnosed with microcephaly were obtained, on the recommendation of the Brazilian health authorities, by ultrasound-guided transabdominal amniocentesis at 28 weeks' gestation. The women had presented at 18 weeks' and 10 weeks' gestation, respectively, with clinical manifestations that could have been symptoms of Zika virus infection, including fever, myalgia, and rash. After the amniotic fluid samples were centrifuged, DNA and RNA were extracted from the purified virus particles before the viral genome was identified by quantitative reverse transcription PCR and viral metagenomic next-generation sequencing. Phylogenetic reconstruction and investigation of recombination events were done by comparing the Brazilian Zika virus genome with sequences from other Zika strains and from flaviviruses that occur in similar regions in Brazil.FindingsWe detected the Zika virus genome in the amniotic fluid of both pregnant women. The virus was not detected in their urine or serum. Tests for dengue virus, chikungunya virus, Toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, HIV, Treponema pallidum, and parvovirus B19 were all negative. After sequencing of the complete genome of the Brazilian Zika virus isolated from patient 1, phylogenetic analyses showed that the virus shares 97–100% of its genomic identity with lineages isolated during an outbreak in French Polynesia in 2013, and that in both envelope and NS5 genomic regions, it clustered with sequences from North and South America, southeast Asia, and the Pacific. After assessing the possibility of recombination events between the Zika virus and other flaviviruses, we ruled out the hypothesis that the Brazilian Zika virus genome is a recombinant strain with other mosquito-borne flaviviruses.InterpretationThese findings strengthen the putative association between Zika virus and cases of microcephaly in neonates in Brazil. Moreover, our results suggest that the virus can cross the placental barrier. As a result, Zika virus should be considered as a potential infectious agent for human fetuses. Pathogenesis studies that confirm the tropism of Zika virus for neuronal cells are warranted.FundingConsellho Nacional de Desenvolvimento e Pesquisa (CNPq), Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ).
niman Posted February 18, 2016 Author Report Posted February 18, 2016 Research in contextEvidence before this studyMany cases of microcephaly in newborn babies in Brazil have occurred in regions where infections of Zika virus and other arboviruses have also been detected. We searched PubMed with the search terms “Zika”, and “microcephaly” for articles published up to Feb 5, 2016. We found 11 articles that suggested a possible relation between Zika virus and microcephaly in neonates. A short case report by our group, reporting the ultrasound evidence of the two fetal microcephaly cases reported here, has been published previously. Our search found no other clear evidence that Zika virus could cross the placental barrier and infect the human fetus.Added value of this studyThis study presents the virological and genetic data implicating Zika virus in the two cases of fetal malformation that we described briefly in our previous case report. We used quantitative reverse transcription PCR and viral metagenomics technology applied to samples of amniotic fluid obtained from the two pregnant women carrying fetuses with microcephaly, and obtained sequences of the Zika virus genome. The study of these cases provides empirical evidence for the association between Zika virus infection during pregnancy and fetal microcephaly. Furthermore, we isolated the whole genome of Zika virus directly from the amniotic fluid of two pregnant women, and provided evidence to support previous findings indicating that the origin of the virus is French Polynesia.Implications of all the available evidenceOn the basis of our findings, Zika virus should be regarded as a possible causative agent in cases of microcephaly, especially during Zika virus outbreaks in endemic regions. Our work emphasises not only the importance of controlling the Aedes aegypti mosquito population while no vaccine or antiviral is available, but also the need for further studies to understand the mechanisms of immunopathogenicity that lead to congenital malformation due to Zika virus infection.
niman Posted February 18, 2016 Author Report Posted February 18, 2016 IntroductionSince 2015, Brazil has been facing a public health emergency regarding the dramatic increase in the number of newborn babies with microcephaly. Epidemiological data indicate that up to Jan 6, 2016, 4783 cases were reported in 21 states in the North, Northeast, South, and Southeast Regions of Brazil.1 This incidence of microcephaly is 20 times higher than in previous years, reaching 99·7 per 100 000 livebirths, and including 76 deaths of neonates as of Jan 6, 2016.1When diagnosed prenatally by ultrasound imaging, congenital microcephaly is a strong predictor of adverse neurological outcomes.2 As defined by WHO, microcephaly occurs whenever the occipital frontal circumference of the head of the newborn child or fetus is 2 standard deviations smaller than the mean for the same age and sex.3 A brain size that is significantly different to that in the normal range is an important risk factor for cognitive and motor delay.4 Microcephaly is associated with several causes, including genetic disorders (eg, autosomal recessive microcephaly, Aicardi-Goutières syndrome, chromosomal trisomy, Rett syndrome, and X-chromosomal microcephaly); drug and chemical intoxication of the pregnant mother (eg, use of alcohol, cocaine, or antiepileptic drugs, lead or mercury intoxication, or radiation); maternal malnutrition; and transplacental infections with viruses or bacteria.5 Maternal viral infections, including rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex, varicella zoster virus, HIV, and arboviruses such as chikungunya, have also been associated with microcephaly in neonates.5, 6 Epidemiological evidence suggests that Zika virus infection of pregnant women in Brazil might be associated with the increasing numbers of congenital microcephaly cases reported in the country. Several mosquito species have been found to be naturally infected with Zika virus, including Aedes africanus, Aedes luteocephalus, Aedes hensilli, Aedes polynesiensis, Aedes dalzielii, Aedes albopictus, Aedes apicoargenteus, and Aedes aegypti among others, but little is known about their vector competence.7, 8, 9, 10 A aegypti is the overwhelmingly predominant mosquito species found in Brazil, and is also associated with other arboviruses already reported in Brazil, such as the dengue and chikungunya viruses.Zika virus was first isolated from human beings in Nigeria7 during studies undertaken in 1954. Further cases were reported in other African countries11 (Uganda, Tanzania, Egypt, Sierra Leone, Gabon, Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Senegal, and Central African Republic), in Asian countries (India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia), in several islands of the Pacific region since 2007 (Federated States of Micronesia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Guam, Samoa, Vanuatu, and Solomon Islands), and since about early 2015 in the Americas (Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela, Canada, and the USA).9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 Outbreaks of Zika virus infection on Yap Island (in 2007) and in French Polynesia (2013–14), with further spread to New Caledonia, the Cook Islands, and Easter Island, have shown the propensity of this arbovirus species to spread outside its usual geographical range and to cause large outbreaks.The first autochthonous cases of Zika virus in Brazil were confirmed in May, 2015.16 Since then, as of Jan 6, 2015, 21 states have confirmed virus circulation, with a higher prevalence in the Northeast Region.17 Reports of microcephaly incidence in Brazil geographically overlap with Zika virus reports; most of the mothers whose infants were diagnosed with microcephaly complained during their pregnancies of clinical manifestations, such as low-grade fever, headache, and cutaneous rashes, that might have been symptoms of Zika virus infection or infection with any other arbovirus species that is prevalent in the region.In the face of this potential association between Zika virus infection and the increasing number of cases of microcephaly, the Brazilian Ministry of Health and WHO have recommended that pregnant women should take precautions to avoid contact with all potential vectors, since no specific antiviral treatment for Zika virus infection exists.1Small fragments of the genome of the Zika virus strain circulating in Brazil have been sequenced and phylogenetic analysis has indicated that the virus is similar to the one that circulated in French Polynesia in 2013.16, 17 However, evidence linking the high incidence of microcephaly to the presence of Zika virus is scarce. In January, 2016, our group reported ultrasound image evidence of two cases of fetal microcephaly in women who had complained of Zika-like virus symptoms during pregnancy, and we reported brief preliminary PCR findings, confirming the presence of Zika virus in their amniotic fluid.18 In this case study, we expand upon these previously reported findings, and describe how we used quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) and viral metagenomics to detect and sequence the Zika virus genome in the amniotic fluid samples of these two pregnant women with microcephalic fetuses.
niman Posted February 18, 2016 Author Report Posted February 18, 2016 MethodsCase historiesThe first case in our study was of a 27-year-old woman in her first pregnancy, from an inner city in the state of Paraíba, in the Northeast Region of Brazil (patient 1). Her prenatal care was uneventful until early September, 2015, when, at 18 weeks of gestation, the woman developed a cutaneous rash with itching of the hands and back. On the basis of her clinical status, she was diagnosed at an emergency service unit with allergic reaction, and was prescribed intravenous hydrocortisone. The next day, her symptoms worsened as she developed a fever and myalgia. She had a normal fetal ultrasound at 16 weeks. The patient had not travelled outside the state of Paraíba during the previous few years, and she had not had contact with any ill individuals. She had no immunodeficiency or autoimmune diseases. At 21 weeks of gestation, a further ultrasound indicated a fetal microcephaly diagnosis with moderate ventriculomegaly and partial agenesis of the cerebellar vermis. A third ultrasound done at 27 weeks confirmed the microcephaly diagnosis with relevant dilation of ventricles, asymmetry of hemispheres, and hypoplastic cerebellum with complete absence of the cerebellar vermis. The patient was healthy and stable during the ultrasound and amniocentesis procedures. Results of all laboratory examinations showed no diabetes and blood-pressure-related disorders. Additionally, the patient did not report taking any medication (other than hydrocortisone), recreational drug use, alcohol consumption, or smoking during the pregnancy. Patient 1 is still being monitored by the physicians in our group. At 40 weeks of gestation the fetus presented microcephaly with calcification areas and head circumference of 29 cm assessed by ultrasonography before birth. The baby was born at 40 weeks of gestation and had an actual head circumference of 30 cm.The second case in our study was of a 35-year-old woman in her first pregnancy, also from the state of Paraíba (patient 2). The patient, with no relevant past medical history, sought care when she developed mild Zika virus disease-like symptoms at 10 weeks of gestation. She was prescribed symptomatic treatment. A morphological ultrasound at 22 weeks of gestation revealed mild hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis. The fetal head circumference on the 22nd week of gestation was below the 10th percentile. A second ultrasound done at 25 weeks of gestation revealed more severe hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis, enlargement of the posterior fossa, and microcephaly, yielding a head circumference below the third percentile. The brain parenchyma was normal. The patient was healthy and stable during the ultrasound and amniocentesis procedures. All the laboratory examinations showed no evidence of diabetes or blood-pressure-related disorders. Additionally, she did not report taking any medication, recreational drug use, alcohol consumption, or smoking during the pregnancy. Patient 2 is still being monitored by the physicians in our group. She delivered on Feb 3, 2016, and the neonate presented severe ventriculomegaly, microphthalmia, cataract, and severe arthrogryposis in the legs and arms.Sample collectionFollowing Brazilian health public recommendations, amniocentesis was done at gestational week 28 in both women to investigate the cause of microcephaly. Ultrasound-guided transabdominal amniocentesis was done and about 5 mL of amniotic fluid was aspirated and immediately stored at −80°C.Viral metagenomics and sequence analysisA 0·5 mL sample of the amniotic fluid from each patient was filtered through 0·45 μm filters to remove residual host cells. The samples were then centrifuged at 21 130 × g and 15 000 rpm (rotor FA-45–24–11, Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany) for 90 min at 4°C to concentrate virus particles. Pelleted virus particles were treated with deoxyribonuclease and ribonuclease A at 37°C for 90 min according to previously reported protocols.19 RNA was isolated using the QIAamp MinElute Virus Spin Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany), omitting carrier RNA. Double-stranded cDNA libraries were prepared using the TruSeq Stranded Total RNA LT Sample Preparation Kit (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA). Library size distribution was assessed using the 2100 Bioanalyzer (Agilent, Santa Clara, CA, USA) and the High Sensitivity DNA Kit (Agilent). Accurate quantification of the libraries was accomplished with the 7500 Real-Time PCR System (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA) and the KAPA Library Quantification Kit (Kapa Biosystems, Wilmington, MA, USA). Paired-end sequencing (2 × 210 bp) was done using a MiSeq sequencing system (Illumina).The sequences obtained were preprocessed using the PRINSEQ software to remove reads smaller than 35 bp and sequences with scores of lower quality than a Phred quality score of 20. Fast length adjustment of short reads (FLASH) software was used to merge and extend the paired-end Illumina reads using the default parameters, with a maximum overlap of 400 bp. The extended reads were analysed with basic local alignment search tool (BLAST), against the Human Transcriptome Database (RefSeq, Annotation Release 107; 162 916 sequences), with e-value cutoff of 1e-5, to remove human RNA sequences. Non-human reads were analysed against all GenBank viral genomes (65 052 sequences), and reads that were similar to the Zika virus were collected and used for genomic assembly. The Zika virus genome (Brazil strain) was assembled de novo using the CAP3 assembly software, using the parameters overlap length cutoff (-o) of 16, and overlap percent identity cutoff (-p) of 85. The Atlas genome was constructed using BRIG (BLAST Ring Image Generator) software. We used the Zika virus genome sequence H/PF/2013 (KJ776791.1) as the reference. This strain was isolated in French Polynesia, and we compared it with a strain from Uganda, MR 766 (accession: NC_012532.1), another strain isolated in Senegal, ArD157995 (accession: KF383118), and our assembled Zika virus genome.Phylogenetic analysisPhylogenetic reconstruction was completed using both maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods on alignments of the envelope and NS5 regions of the polyprotein coding sequence. The best choice of substitution model used in the maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses was determined with the likelihood-ratio test, implemented using HyPhy software. The generalised time-reversible (GTR) model with gamma-distributed evolutionary rates (G) and invariable sites (I), GTR + G + I, was chosen. We undertook maximum likelihood analysis with PhyML 3.0 phylogeny software, using the approximate likelihood-ratio test as a means of assigning statistical significance to internal branches. Bayesian inference was run on MrBayes 3.2 software with default Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm settings—ie, two independent runs with four chains each were sampled every 500th generation until 1 000 000 samples were obtained. 25% of the MCMC samples were discarded as a burn-in step. Chain convergence was measured by the Gelman-Rubin statistic, using the potential scale reduction factor, or PSRF, which was close to 1 for all parameters. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference topologies were identical. We therefore report the results from the maximum likelihood analysis.To investigate recombination breakpoints along the Zika virus genome, a sliding window strategy was implemented using an in-house script. By building a stand-alone BLAST database containing all reference flavivirus genomes, we scanned the Zika virus genome every 50 bp regions and registered their BLAST hits using a cutoff e-value of 0·0001. We did genome-wide multiple alignments using the Multi-LAGAN algorithm as implemented in the VISTA database. Phylogeny of whole genomes was also inferred by maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods.Role of the funding sourceThe funder of the study had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or writing of the report. The corresponding author had full access to all the data in the study and had final responsibility for the decision to submit for publication.
niman Posted February 18, 2016 Author Report Posted February 18, 2016 (edited) ResultsSerum, urine, and amniotic fluid samples from both patients (all taken at week 28 of gestation) were tested for dengue virus, chikungunya virus, and Zika virus. The RT-qPCR for dengue virus20 and the RT-qPCR for chikungunya virus21 were negative in all samples. The RT-qPCRs for Zika virus22confirmed Zika virus infection in the amniotic fluids of patients 1 and 2, but were negative in urine and serum samples in both patients. Serology tests of serum, urine, and amniotic fluid samples using anti-dengue-virus IgM, anti-dengue-virus IgG, anti-chikungunya-virus IgM, and anti-chikungunya-virus IgG yielded negative results by ELISA. However, ELISA for Zika virus was positive for anti-Zika-virus IgM in amniotic fluid, and negative in serum and urine in both patients 1 and 2. TORCH (toxoplasmosis, HIV, syphilis, measles, rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex) panels of both women were also negative, as well as specific HIV, syphilis, cytomegalovirus, and parvovirus B19 screens.Virus particles were filtrated and concentrated from the amniotic fluid samples. After cellular contaminants and human sequences were eliminated, 288 904 sequences showed similarity with virus sequences through BLAST analysis of the GenBank viral genome database. 683 sequences matched the Zika virus, comprising 167 143 bp, used to assemble the genome. Two different fragments corresponding to Zika virus genome positions 1641–1763 and 6466–6566 were sequenced from samples of patient 2. Metagenomic analysis of samples of patient 1 covered 10 793 bases of the Zika virus genome with 19 × coverage. The complete sequence (10 793 nucleotides) was deposited at the GenBank database (accession number ID: KU497555).Figure 1 shows the whole Zika virus genome isolated from the amniotic fluid of patient 1 with viral gene annotation. The Brazilian Zika virus shares 97–100% of its genomic identity with the Zika virus sequence KJ776791.1 isolated in French Polynesia. The comparison with African strains such as NC_012532.1 (Zika virus Uganda) and KF383118.1 (Zika virus Senegal) yielded 87–90% identity. The proportion of GC content in the Brazilian Zika virus was 51·2% (figure 1).Figure 1Comparative genome BLAST Atlas diagram of Zika virusThe green outer circle corresponds to the complete Brazilian Zika virus genome isolated from the amniotic fluid of patient 1. 10 793 bases were sequenced. The red circle corresponds to the Senegal (KF383118.1) strain of Zika virus and the blue circle corresponds to the Uganda strain (NC_012532.1). The percentage deviation in GC content between the Brazilian Zika virus and the reference Zika virus is represented along the Zika virus genome by the varying heights of the black bars. The innermost (black) circle corresponds to the reference genome (French Polynesia, KJ776791.1). Genome shared identity between each strain and the reference genome are shown as percentages. BLAST=basic local alignment search tool.We compared the viral sequences from patient 1 with previously released sequence data from Zika virus outbreaks in Asia and Africa and other flaviviruses, including dengue virus serotypes 1–4, West Nile virus, and yellow fever virus. Phylogenetic analyses were done using the coding region for the envelope (figure 2) and NS5 genes (figure 3). The geographical origin of the Brazilian Zika virus strain could not be determined because of sampling limitations, but Brazilian Zika virus is probably more closely related to French Polynesia sequences than to African strains. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods applied to the alignment of the envelope and NS5 regions of the polyprotein coding sequence yielded identical estimates of phylogenetic topologies. In both envelope (figure 2) and NS5 (figure 3) genomic regions, the new genome clustered with sequences from North and South America, southeast Asia, and the Pacific.Figure 2Maximum likelihood topologies of envelope genomic region from Brazilian Zika virusBrazilian Zika virus (in red text) isolated from the amniotic fluid of patient 1, whose fetus was diagnosed with microcephaly, was compared with previously released sequence data. Approximate likelihood-ratio test support values greater than 0·5 are shown at nodes. Zika virus Brazil shares the same origin as those of Asian, Pacific, and American lineages (red branches). For most strains, the country of isolation is shown, in some cases followed by the date of isolation. Burkina=Burkina Faso. Central=Central African Republic. Cook=Cook Islands.Figure 3Maximum likelihood topologies of NS5 genomic region from Brazilian Zika virusBrazilian Zika virus (in red text) isolated from the amniotic fluid of patient 1, whose fetus was diagnosed with microcephaly, was compared with previously released sequence data. Approximate likelihood-ratio test support values greater than 0·5 are shown at nodes. Zika virus Brazil shares the same origin as those of Asian, Pacific, and American lineages (red branches). For most sequences, the country of isolation is shown, in some cases followed by the date of isolation.The geographical and chronological distributions of Zika virus lineages also indicate that southeast Asian strains could have remained genetically isolated from African strains for about 50 years, because Malaysian sequence HQ234449, collected in 1966, is the sister group of the remaining New World and Pacific strains. This pattern was further confirmed by the genomic distance between the newly sequenced Brazilian Zika virus and the Ugandan Zika virus genome available in GenBank (ZIKV LC002520; figure 4). Figure 4Maximum likelihood phylogeny of Brazilian Zika virus, other Flaviviridae genomes, and an alphavirus genomeBrazilian Zika virus (in red) was isolated from the amniotic fluid of patient 1, whose fetus was diagnosed with microcephaly. Approximate likelihood-ratio test and Bayesian inference support values are shown at nodes. Chikungunya is an alphavirus; all other viruses are from the Flaviviridae family. DENV=dengue virus. JEV=Japanese encephalitis virus. YFV=yellow fever virus. ZIKV=Zika virus.We assessed the possibility of recombination events between the Zika virus and other flaviviruses by scanning the Zika virus genome every 50 bp using as references the genomes from dengue virus serotypes 1–4, West Nile virus, yellow fever virus, and chikungunya virus (an alphavirus that is transmitted by the same vector). The sliding window strategy with local alignments of genomic fragments ruled out the hypothesis that the newly sequenced Brazilian Zika virus genome is a recombinant strain with other mosquito-borne flaviviruses. All genomic regions consistently presented best hits and significant e-values with previously reported Zika virus genomes, ruling out the hypothesis of genomic recombination. DiscussionDetection of the Zika virus genome and anti-Zika-virus IgM in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women with microcephalic fetuses has not been previously reported in detail in the scientific literature. This finding shows that the Zika virus can cross the placental barrier and, possibly, infect the fetus. A previous report23 suggested that fragments of Zika virus genome were identified in saliva, breastmilk, urine, and serum of two mothers and their newborn babies within 4 days of delivery. However, our group is the first, to our knowledge, to isolate the whole genome of Zika virus directly from the amniotic fluid of a pregnant woman before delivery, supporting the hypothesis that Zika virus infection could occur through transplacental transmission.Some neglected tropical diseases have well known neurological effects. Many distinct clinical syndromes, from mild fever and arthralgia to severe haemorrhagic and encephalitic manifestations, are known to be associated with flavivirus infections.24 Other severe neurological complications such as Guillain-Barré syndrome have been reported in patients infected with Zika virus.25 Two key properties allow these viruses to affect the neural system: the ability to enter the CNS (neuroinvasiveness) and the capacity to infect neural cells through a process known as neurovirulence. A connection between Zika virus infections and poor CNS outcomes remains presumptive, and is based on a temporal association. New studies should be done to investigate whether the Zika virus can infect either neurological precursor cells or final differentiated cells.Congenital microcephaly is a descriptive diagnosis. It can be caused by various factors, such as genetic disorders, exposure to chemicals, brain injury, consumption of teratogenic drugs, and intrauterine infections.26 Here, we focused on viral infection to explain these two cases of microcephaly. However, other possible causes or contributing factors should continue to be pursued as new cases arise in Brazil.In these two patients, fetal microcephaly was detected early during gestation and a severe outcome was expected. Ultrasound tests revealed the presence of malformation, including ventriculomegaly and cerebellar hypoplasia. Fetal brain malformation can often result from viral infections during pregnancy. Cytomegalovirus infection occurring before 18 weeks of gestation is frequently associated with lissencephaly with a thin cerebral cortex, cerebellar hypoplasia, and ventriculomegaly, among other malformations.27 However, in the two cases presented here, serological and RT-PCR tests for cytomegalovirus were negative, ruling out cytomegalovirus infection. The viral metagenomic approach used here does not exclude either DNA or RNA viruses; nevertheless, no cytomegalovirus sequence was identified in the amniotic fluid in our analyses. An increase in the incidence of CNS malformations in fetuses and neonates was reported after a Zika virus outbreak in French Polynesia; however, the occurrence of microcephaly associated with these previous outbreaks was not documented.1Our previous image findings18 and our results shown here of the presence of viral genomic material in both patients, several weeks after the acute phase of Zika virus disease, suggest that the intrauterine viral load results from persistent replication. In turn, this persistence could be partly explained by the reduced immune system response of the fetus, as described in the pathogenesis of congenital cytomegalovirus.28, 29The Zika virus could have undergone several recombination events, and the recurrent loss and gain of the N-linked glycosylation site in the E protein could be related to mosquito-cell infectivity.30 We found no evidence of recombination events in the Zika virus genomes that we tested. The role of recombination in Zika virus virulence warrants further study.Our results provide insight into the origin of the Zika virus circulating in Brazil, and suggest that a causal relation might exist between Zika virus infection and fetal microcephaly. New studies coordinated by the Brazilian Ministry of Health and other institutions are underway to further test this hypothesis, and hopefully elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of Zika virus infection.We recommend that Zika virus infection should be regarded as a possible causative agent in cases of microcephaly, especially during Zika virus outbreaks in endemic regions. Early diagnosis of Zika virus infection, supportive care, symptomatic treatment, and referral of children with microcephaly to specialised care are all necessary measures to improve neurodevelopment of affected children.ContributorsAMBdF, RSA, AT, and FLT designed the study. ASOM did the ultrasound and collected the amniotic fluid samples. SAS, AF, ESMA, RSA, PCdS, MCLdM, and LdO did the laboratory studies. AMBdF, RMRN, FBdS, RSA, CGS, AT, FLT, DAT, PB, and IdF analysed the data. GC, AMBdF, and RSA wrote and edited initial drafts. All authors reviewed the final draft.Declaration of interestsWe declare no competing interests.AcknowledgmentsWe thank David O'Connor and Dawn Dudley for helping with the viral metagenomics protocols. We thank Consellho Nacional de Desenvolvimento e Pesquisa (CNPq) and Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) for funding. Edited February 18, 2016 by Admin
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niman Posted February 18, 2016 Author Report Posted February 18, 2016 LOCUS KU497555 10793 bp RNA linear VRL 18-FEB-2016 DEFINITION Zika virus isolate Brazil-ZKV2015, complete genome. ACCESSION KU497555 VERSION KU497555.1 GI:985578255 KEYWORDS . SOURCE Zika virus ORGANISM Zika virus Viruses; ssRNA viruses; ssRNA positive-strand viruses, no DNA stage; Flaviviridae; Flavivirus. REFERENCE 1 (bases 1 to 10793) AUTHORS Calvet,G., Aguiar,R.S., Melo,A.S.O., Sampaio,S.A., de Filippis,I., Fabri,A., Araujo,E.S.M., de Sequeira,P.C., de Mendonca,M.C.L., de Oliveira,L., Tschoeke,D.A., Schrago,C.G., Thompson,F.L., Brasil,P., dos Santos,F.B., Nogueira,R.M.R., Tanuri,A. and de Filippis,A.M.B. TITLE Detection and sequencing of Zika virus from amniotic fluid of fetuses with microcephaly in Brazil: a case study JOURNAL Lancet Infect Dis (2016) In press REMARK Publication Status: Available-Online prior to print REFERENCE 2 (bases 1 to 10793) AUTHORS Tanuri,A., Bispo,A., Thompson,F., Santana,R., Tschoeke,D., de Oliveira,L. and Guerra,C. TITLE Direct Submission JOURNAL Submitted (06-JAN-2016) UFRJ, UFRJ, Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil COMMENT ##Assembly-Data-START## Assembly Method :: SPAdes v. 3.6 Assembly Name :: ZKV Brazil Coverage :: 19 X Sequencing Technology :: Illumina ##Assembly-Data-END## FEATURES Location/Qualifiers source 1..10793 /organism="Zika virus" /mol_type="genomic RNA" /isolate="Brazil-ZKV2015" /isolation_source="anminiotic liquid" /host="Homo sapiens" /db_xref="taxon:64320" /country="Brazil" /collection_date="30-Nov-2015" CDS 101..10372 /codon_start=1 /product="polyprotein" /protein_id="AMD16557.1" /db_xref="GI:985578256" /translation="MKNPKKKSGGFRIVNMLKRGVARVSPFGGLKRLPAGLLLGHGPI RMVLAILAFLRFTAIKPSLGLINRWGSVGKKEAMEIIKKFKKDLAAMLRIINARKEKK RRGADTSVGIVGLLLTTAMAAEVTRRGSAYYMYLDRNDAGEAISFPTTLGMNKCYIQI MDLGHMCDATMSYECPMLDEGVEPDDVDCWCNTTSTWVVYGTCHHKKGEARRSRRAVT LPSHSTRKLQTRSQTWLESREYTKHLIRVENWIFRNPGFALAAAAIAWLLGSSTSQKV IYLVMILLIAPAYSIRCIGVSNRDFVEGMSGGTWVDVVLEHGGCVTVMAQDKPTVDIE LVTTTVSNMAEVRSYCYEASISDMASDSRCPTQGEAYLDKQSDTQYVCKRTLVDRGWG NGCGLFGKGSLVTCAKFACSKKMTGKSIQPENLEYRIMLSVHGSQHSGMIVNDTGHET DENRAKVEITPNSPRAEATLGGFGSLGLDCEPRTGLDFSDLYYLTMNNKHWLVHKEWF HDIPLPWHAGADTGTPHWNNKEALVEFKDAHAKRQTVVVLGTQEGAVHTALAGALEAE MDGAKGRLSSGHLKCRLKMDKLRLKGVSYSLCTAAFTFTKIPAETLHGTVTVEVQYAG TDGPCKVPAQMAVDMQTLTPVGRLITANPVITESTENSKMMLELDPPFGDSYIVIGVG EKKITHHWHRSGSTIGKAFEATVRGAKRMAVLGDTAWDFGSVGGALNSLGKGIHQIFG AAFKSLFGGMSWFSQILIGTLLMWLGLNTKNGSISLMCLALGGVLIFLSTAVSADVGC SVDFSKKETRCGTGVFVYNDVEAWRDRYKYHPDSPRRLAAAVKQAWEDGICGISSVSR MENIMWRSVEGELNAILEENGVQLTVVVGSVKNPMWRGPQRLPVPVNELPHGWKAWGK SYFVRAAKTNNSFVVDGDTLKECPLKHRAWNSFLVEDHGFGVFHTSVWLKVREDYSLE CDPAVIGTAVKGKEAVHSDLGYWIESEKNDTWRLKRAHLIEMKTCEWPKSHTLWTDGI EESDLIIPKSLAGPLSHHNTREGYRTQMKGPWHSEELEIRFEECPGTKVHVEETCGTR GPSLRSTTASGRVIEEWCCRECTMPPLSFRAKDGCWYGMEIRPRKEPESNLVRSMVTA GSTDHMDHFSLGVLVILLMVQEGLKKRMTTKIIISTSMAVLVAMILGGFSMSDLAKLA ILMGATFAEMNTGGDVAHLALIAAFKVRPALLVSFIFRANWTPRESMLLALASCFLQT AISALEGDLMVLINGFALAWLAIRAMVVPRTDNITLAILAALTPLARGTLLVAWRAGL ATCGGFMLLSLKGKGSVKKNLPFVMALGLTAVRLVDPINVVGLLLLTRSGKRSWPPSE VLTAVGLICALAGGFAKADIEMAGPMAAVGLLIVSYVVSGKSVDMYIERAGDITWEKD AEVTGNSPRLDVALDESGDFSLVEDDGPPMREIILKVVLMTICGMNPIAIPFAAGAWY VYVKTGKRSGALWDVPAPKEVKKGETTDGVYRVMTRRLLGSTQVGVGVMQEGVFHTMW HVTKGSALRSGEGRLDPYWGDVKQDLVSYCGPWKLDAAWDGHSEVQLLAVPPGERARN IQTLPGIFKTKDGDIGAVALDYPAGTSGSPILDKCGRVIGLYGNGVVIKNGSYVSAIT QGRREEETPVECFEPSMLKKKQLTVLDLHPGAGKTRRVLPEIVREAIKTRLRTVILAP TRVVAAEMEEALRGLPVRYMTTAVNVTHSGTEIVDLMCHATFTSRLLQPIRVPNYNLY IMDEAHFTDPSSIAARGYISTRVEMGEAAAIFMTATPPGTRDAFPDSNSPIMDTEVEV PERAWSSGFDWVTDHSGKTVWFVPSVRNGNEIAACLTKAGKRVIQLSRKTFETEFQKT KHQEWDFVVTTDISEMGANFKADRVIDSRRCLKPVILDGERVILAGPMPVTHASAAQR RGRIGRNPNKPGDEYLYGGGCAETDEDHAHWLEARMLLDNIYLQDGLIASLYRPEADK VAAIEGEFKLRTEQRKTFVELMKRGDLPVWLAYQVASAGITYTDRRWCFDGTTNNTIM EDSVPAEVWTRHGEKRVLKPRWMDARVCSDHAALKSFKEFAAGKRGAAFGVMEALGTL PGHMTERFQEAIDNLAVLMRAETGSRPYKAAAAQLPETLETIMLLGLLGTVSLGIFFV LMRNKGIGKMGFGMVTLGASAWLMWLSEIEPARIACVLIVVFLLLVVLIPEPEKQRSP QDNQMAIIIMVAVGLLGLITANELGWLERTKSDLSHLMGRREEGATIGFSMDIDLRPA SAWAIYAALTTFITPAVQHAVTTSYNNYSLMAMATQAGVLFGMGKGMPFYAWDFGVPL LMIGCYSQLTPLTLIVAIILLVAHYMYLIPGLQAAAARAAQKRTAAGIMKNPVVDGIV VTDIDTMTIDPQVEKKMGQVLLIAVAVSSAILSRTAWGWGEAGALITAATSTLWEGSP NKYWNSSTATSLCNIFRGSYLAGASLIYTVTRNAGLVKRRGGGTGETLGEKWKARLNQ MSALEFYSYKKSGITEVCREEARRALKDGVATGGHAVSRGSAKLRWLVERGYLQPYGK VIDLGCGRGGWSYYAATIRKVQEVKGYTKGGPGHEEPVLVQSYGWNIVRLKSGVDVFH MAAEPCDTLLCDIGESSSSPEVEEARTLRVLSMVGDWLEKRPGAFCIKVLCPYTSTMM ETLERLQRRYGGGLVRVPLSRNSTHEMYWVSGAKSNTIKSVSTTSQLLLGRMDGPRRP VKYEEDVNLGSGTRAVVSCAEAPNMKIIGNRIERIRSEHAETWFFDENHPYRTWAYHG SYVAPTQGSASSLINGVVRLLSKPWDVVTGVTGIAMTDTTPYGQQRVFKEKVDTRVPD PQEGTRQVMSMVSSWLWKELGKHKRPRVCTKEEFINKVRSNAALGAIFEEEKEWKTAV EAVNDPRFWALVDKEREHHLRGECQSCVYNMMGKREKKQGEFGKAKGSRAIWYMWLGA RFLEFEALGFLNEDHWMGRENSGGGVEGLGLQRLGYVLEEMSRIPGGRMYADDTAGWD TRISRFDLENEALITNQMEKGHRALALAIIKYTYQNKVVKVLRPAEKGKTVMDIISRQ DQRGSGQVVTYALNTFTNLVVQLIRNMEAEEVLEMQDLWLLRRSEKVTNWLQSNGWDR LKRMAVSGDDCVVKPIDDRFAHALRFLNDMGKVRKDTQEWKPSTGWDNWEEVPFCSHH FNKLHLKDGRSIVVPCRHQDELIGRARVSPGAGWSIRETACLAKSYAQMWQLLYFHRR DLRLMANAICSSVPVDWVPTGRTTWSIHGKGEWMTTEDMLVVWNRVWIEENDHMEDKT PVTKWTDIPYLGKREDLWCGSLIGHRPRTTWAENIKNTVNMVRRIIGDEEKYMDYLST QVRYLGEEGSTPGVL" ORIGIN 1 ccaatctgtg aatcagactg cgacagttcg agtttgaagc gaaagctagc aacagtatca 61 acaggtttta ttttggattt ggaaacgaga gtttctggtc atgaaaaacc caaaaaagaa 121 atccggagga ttccggattg tcaatatgct aaaacgcgga gtagcccgtg tgagcccctt 181 tgggggcttg aagaggctgc cagccggact tctgctgggt catgggccca tcaggatggt 241 cttggcgatt ctagcctttt tgagattcac ggcaatcaag ccatcactgg gtctcatcaa 301 tagatggggt tcagtgggga aaaaagaggc tatggaaata ataaagaagt tcaagaaaga 361 tctggctgcc atgctgagaa taatcaatgc caggaaggag aagaagagac gaggcgcaga 421 tactagtgtc ggaatcgttg gcctcctgct gaccacagct atggcagcgg aggtcactag 481 acgtgggagt gcatactata tgtacttgga cagaaacgat gctggggagg ccatatcttt 541 tccaaccaca ttggggatga ataagtgtta tatacagatc atggatcttg gacacatgtg 601 tgatgccacc atgagctatg aatgccctat gctggatgag ggggtggaac cagatgacgt 661 cgattgttgg tgcaacacga cgtcaacttg ggttgtgtac ggaacctgcc atcacaaaaa 721 aggtgaagca cggagatcta gaagagctgt gacgctcccc tcccattcca ctaggaagct 781 gcaaacgcgg tcgcaaacct ggttggaatc aagagaatac acaaagcact tgattagagt 841 cgaaaattgg atattcagga accctggctt cgcgttagca gcagctgcca tcgcttggct 901 tttgggaagc tcaacgagcc aaaaagtcat atacttggtc atgatactgc tgattgcccc 961 ggcatacagc atcaggtgca taggagtcag caatagggac tttgtggaag gtatgtcagg 1021 tgggacttgg gttgatgttg tcttggaaca tgggggttgt gtcaccgtaa tggcacagga 1081 caaaccgact gtcgacatag agctggttac aacaacagtc agcaacatgg cggaggtaag 1141 atcctactgc tatgaggcat caatatcaga catggcttcg gacagccgct gcccaacaca 1201 aggtgaagcc taccttgaca agcaatcaga cactcaatat gtctgcaaaa gaacgttagt 1261 ggacagaggc tggggaaatg gatgtggact ttttggcaaa gggagcctgg tgacatgcgc 1321 taagtttgca tgctccaaga aaatgaccgg gaagagcatc cagccagaga atctggagta 1381 ccggataatg ctgtcagttc atggctccca gcacagtggg atgatcgtta atgacacagg 1441 acatgaaact gatgagaata gagcgaaggt tgagataacg cccaattcac caagagccga 1501 agccaccctg gggggttttg gaagcttagg acttgattgt gaaccgagga caggccttga 1561 cttttcagat ttgtattact tgactatgaa taacaagcac tggttggttc acaaggagtg 1621 gttccacgac attccattac cttggcacgc tggggcagac accggaactc cacactggaa 1681 caacaaagaa gcactggtag agttcaagga cgcacatgcc aaaaggcaaa ctgtcgtggt 1741 tctagggact caagaaggag cagttcacac ggcccttgct ggagctctgg aggctgagat 1801 ggatggtgca aagggaaggc tgtcctctgg ccacttgaaa tgtcgcctga aaatggataa 1861 acttagattg aagggcgtgt catactcctt gtgtaccgca gcgttcacat tcaccaagat 1921 cccggctgaa acactgcacg ggacagtcac agtggaggta cagtacgcag ggacagatgg 1981 accttgcaag gttccagctc agatggcggt ggacatgcaa actctgaccc cagttgggag 2041 gttgataacc gctaaccccg taatcactga aagcactgag aactctaaga tgatgctgga 2101 acttgatcca ccatttgggg actcttacat tgtcatagga gtcggggaga agaagatcac 2161 ccaccactgg cacaggagtg gcagcaccat tggaaaagca tttgaagcca ctgtgagagg 2221 tgccaagaga atggcagtct tgggagacac agcctgggac tttggatcag ttggaggcgc 2281 tctcaactca ttgggcaagg gcatccatca aatttttgga gcagctttca aatcattgtt 2341 tggaggaatg tcctggttct cacaaattct cattggaacg ttgctgatgt ggttgggtct 2401 gaacacaaag aatggatcta tttcccttat gtgcttggcc ttagggggag tgttgatctt 2461 cttatccaca gccgtctctg ctgatgtggg gtgctcggtg gacttctcaa agaaggagac 2521 gagatgtggt acaggggtgt tcgtctataa cgacgttgaa gcctggaggg acaggtacaa 2581 gtaccatcct gactctcccc gtagattggc agcagcagtc aagcaagcct gggaagatgg 2641 tatctgcggg atctcctctg tttcaagaat ggaaaacatc atgtggagat cagtagaagg 2701 ggagcttaac gcaatcctgg aagagaatgg agttcaactg acggtcgttg tgggatctgt 2761 aaaaaacccc atgtggagag gtccacagag attgcccgtg cctgtgaacg agctgcccca 2821 cggctggaag gcttggggga aatcgtactt cgtcagagca gcaaagacaa ataacagctt 2881 tgtcgtggat ggtgacacac tgaaggaatg cccactcaaa catagagcat ggaacagctt 2941 tcttgtggag gatcatgggt tcggggtatt tcacactagt gtctggctca aggttagaga 3001 agattattca ttagagtgtg atccagccgt tattggaaca gctgttaagg gaaaggaggc 3061 tgtacacagt gatctaggct actggattga gagtgagaag aatgacacat ggaggctgaa 3121 gagggcccat ctgatcgaga tgaaaacatg tgaatggcca aagtcccaca cattgtggac 3181 agatggaata gaagagagtg atctgatcat acccaagtct ttagctgggc cactcagcca 3241 tcacaatacc agagagggct acaggaccca aatgaaaggg ccatggcaca gtgaagagct 3301 tgaaattcgg tttgaggaat gcccaggcac taaggtccac gtggaggaaa catgtggaac 3361 aagaggacca tctctgagat caaccactgc aagcggaagg gtgatcgagg aatggtgctg 3421 cagggagtgc acaatgcccc cactgtcgtt ccgggctaaa gatggctgtt ggtatggaat 3481 ggagataagg cccaggaaag aaccagaaag caacttagta aggtcaatgg tgactgcagg 3541 atcaactgat cacatggatc acttctccct tggagtgctt gtgattctgc tcatggtgca 3601 ggaagggctg aagaagagaa tgaccacaaa gatcatcata agcacatcaa tggcagtgct 3661 ggtagctatg atcctgggag gattttcaat gagtgacctg gctaagcttg caattttgat 3721 gggtgccacc ttcgcggaaa tgaacactgg aggagatgta gctcatctgg cgctgatagc 3781 ggcattcaaa gtcagaccag cgttgctggt atctttcatc ttcagagcta attggacacc 3841 ccgtgaaagc atgctgctgg ccttggcctc gtgttttttg caaactgcga tctccgcctt 3901 ggaaggcgac ctgatggttc tcatcaatgg ttttgctttg gcctggttgg caatacgagc 3961 gatggttgtt ccacgcactg acaacatcac cttggcaatc ctggctgctc tgacaccact 4021 ggcccggggc acactgcttg tggcgtggag agcaggcctt gctacttgcg gggggtttat 4081 gctcctctct ctgaagggaa aaggcagtgt gaagaagaac ttaccatttg tcatggccct 4141 gggactaacc gctgtgaggc tggtcgaccc catcaacgtg gtgggactgc tgttgctcac 4201 aaggagtggg aagcggagct ggccccctag cgaagtactc acagctgttg gcctgatatg 4261 cgcattggct ggagggttcg ccaaggcaga tatagagatg gctgggccca tggccgcggt 4321 cggtctgcta attgtcagtt acgtggtctc aggaaagagt gtggacatgt acattgaaag 4381 agcaggtgac atcacatggg aaaaagatgc ggaagtcact ggaaacagtc cccggctcga 4441 tgtggcgcta gatgagagtg gtgacttctc cctggtggag gatgacggtc cccccatgag 4501 agagatcata ctcaaggtgg tcctgatgac catctgtggc atgaacccaa tagccatacc 4561 ctttgcagct ggagcgtggt acgtatacgt gaagactgga aaaaggagtg gtgctctatg 4621 ggatgtgcct gctcccaagg aagtaaaaaa gggggagacc acagatggag tgtacagagt 4681 aatgactcgt agactgctag gttcaacaca agttggagtg ggagttatgc aagagggggt 4741 ctttcacact atgtggcacg tcacaaaagg atccgcgctg agaagcggtg aagggagact 4801 tgatccatac tggggagatg tcaagcagga tctggtgtca tactgtggtc catggaagct 4861 agatgccgcc tgggacgggc acagcgaggt gcagctcttg gccgtgcccc ccggagagag 4921 agcgaggaac atccagactc tgcccggaat atttaagaca aaggatgggg acattggagc 4981 ggttgcgctg gattacccag caggaacttc aggatctcca atcctagaca agtgtgggag 5041 agtgatagga ctttatggca atggggtcgt gataaaaaat gggagttatg ttagtgccat 5101 cacccaaggg aggagggagg aagagactcc tgttgagtgc ttcgagcctt cgatgctgaa 5161 gaagaagcag ctaactgtct tagacttgca tcctggagct gggaaaacca ggagagttct 5221 tcctgaaata gtccgtgaag ccataaaaac aagactccgt actgtgatct tagctccaac 5281 cagggttgtc gctgctgaaa tggaggaagc ccttagaggg cttccagtgc gttatatgac 5341 aacagcagtc aatgtcaccc actctggaac agaaatcgtc gacttaatgt gccatgccac 5401 cttcacttca cgtctactac agccaatcag agtccccaac tataatctgt atattatgga 5461 tgaggcccac ttcacagatc cctcaagcat agcagcaaga ggatacattt caacaagggt 5521 tgagatgggc gaggcggctg ccatcttcat gaccgccacg ccaccaggaa cccgtgacgc 5581 atttccggac tccaactcac caattatgga caccgaagtg gaagtcccag agagagcctg 5641 gagctcaggc tttgattggg tgacggatca ttctggaaaa acagtttggt ttgttccaag 5701 cgtgaggaac ggcaatgaga tcgcagcttg tctgacaaag gctggaaaac gggtcataca 5761 gctcagcaga aagacttttg agacagagtt ccagaaaaca aaacatcaag agtgggactt 5821 tgtcgtgaca actgacattt cagagatggg cgccaacttt aaagctgacc gtgtcataga 5881 ttccaggaga tgcctaaagc cggtcatact tgatggcgag agagtcattc tggctggacc 5941 catgcctgtc acacatgcca gcgctgccca gaggaggggg cgcataggca ggaatcccaa 6001 caaacctgga gatgagtacc tgtatggagg tgggtgcgca gagactgacg aagaccatgc 6061 acactggctt gaagcaagaa tgctccttga caatatttac ctccaagatg gcctcatagc 6121 ctcgctctat cgacctgagg ccgacaaagt agcagccatt gagggagagt tcaagcttag 6181 gacggagcaa aggaagacct ttgtggaact catgaaaaga ggagatcttc ctgtttggct 6241 ggcctatcag gttgcatctg ccggaataac ctacacagat agaagatggt gctttgatgg 6301 cacgaccaac aacaccataa tggaagacag tgtgccggca gaggtgtgga ccagacacgg 6361 agagaaaaga gtgctcaaac cgaggtggat ggacgccaga gtttgttcag atcatgcggc 6421 cctgaagtca ttcaaggagt ttgccgctgg gaaaagagga gcggcttttg gagtgatgga 6481 agccctggga acactgccag gacacatgac agagagattc caggaagcca ttgacaacct 6541 cgctgtgctc atgcgggcag agactggaag caggccttac aaagccgcgg cggcccaatt 6601 gccggagacc ctagagacca ttatgctttt ggggttgctg ggaacagtct cgctgggaat 6661 ctttttcgtc ttgatgagga acaagggcat agggaagatg ggctttggaa tggtgactct 6721 tggggccagc gcatggctca tgtggctctc ggaaattgag ccagccagaa ttgcatgtgt 6781 cctcattgtt gtgttcctat tgctggtggt gctcatacct gagccagaaa agcaaagatc 6841 tccccaggac aaccaaatgg caatcatcat catggtagca gtaggtcttc tgggcttgat 6901 taccgccaat gaactcggat ggttggagag aacaaagagt gacctaagcc atctaatggg 6961 aaggagagag gagggggcaa ccataggatt ctcaatggac attgacctgc ggccagcctc 7021 agcttgggcc atctatgctg ccttgacaac tttcattacc ccagccgtcc aacatgcagt 7081 gaccacttca tacaacaact actccttaat ggcgatggcc acgcaagctg gagtgttgtt 7141 tggtatgggc aaagggatgc cattctacgc atgggacttt ggagtcccgc tgctaatgat 7201 aggttgctac tcacaattaa cacccctgac cctaatagtg gccatcattt tgctcgtggc 7261 gcactacatg tacttgatcc cagggctgca ggcagcagct gcgcgtgctg cccagaagag 7321 aacggcagct ggcatcatga agaaccctgt tgtggatgga atagtggtga ctgacattga 7381 cacaatgaca attgaccccc aagtggagaa aaagatggga caggtgctac tcatagcagt 7441 agccgtctcc agcgccatac tgtcgcggac cgcctggggg tggggggagg ctggggccct 7501 gatcacagcc gcaacttcca ctttgtggga aggctctccg aacaagtact ggaactcctc 7561 tacagccact tcactgtgta acatttttag gggaagttac ttggctggag cttctctaat 7621 ctacacagta acaagaaacg ctggcttggt caagagacgt gggggtggaa caggagagac 7681 cctgggagag aaatggaagg cccgcttgaa ccagatgtcg gccctggagt tctactccta 7741 caaaaagtca ggcatcaccg aggtgtgcag agaagaggcc cgccgcgccc tcaaggacgg 7801 tgtggcaacg ggaggccatg ctgtgtcccg aggaagtgca aagctgagat ggttggtgga 7861 gcggggatac ctgcagccct atggaaaggt cattgatctt ggatgtggca gagggggctg 7921 gagttactac gccgccacca tccgcaaagt tcaagaagtg aaaggataca caaaaggagg 7981 ccctggtcat gaagaacccg tgttggtgca aagctatggg tggaacatag tccgtcttaa 8041 gagtggggtg gacgtctttc atatggcggc tgagccgtgt gacacgttgc tgtgtgacat 8101 aggtgagtca tcatctagtc ctgaagtgga agaagcacgg acgctcagag tcctctccat 8161 ggtgggggat tggcttgaaa aaagaccagg agccttttgc ataaaagtgt tgtgcccata 8221 caccagcact atgatggaaa ccctggagcg actgcagcgt aggtatgggg gaggactggt 8281 cagagtgcca ctctcccgca actctacaca tgagatgtac tgggtctctg gagcgaaaag 8341 caacaccata aaaagtgtgt ccaccacgag ccagctcctc ttggggcgca tggacgggcc 8401 taggaggcca gtgaaatatg aggaggatgt gaatctcggc tctggcacgc gggctgtggt 8461 aagctgcgct gaagctccca acatgaagat cattggtaac cgcattgaaa ggatccgcag 8521 tgagcacgcg gaaacgtggt tctttgacga aaaccaccca tataggacat gggcttacca 8581 tggaagctat gtggccccca cacaagggtc agcgtcctct ctaataaacg gggttgtcag 8641 gctcctgtca aaaccctggg atgtggtgac tggagtcaca ggaatagcca tgaccgacac 8701 cacaccgtat ggtcagcaaa gagttttcaa ggaaaaagtg gacactaggg tgccagaccc 8761 ccaagaaggc actcgtcagg ttatgagcat ggtctcttcc tggttgtgga aagagctagg 8821 caaacacaaa cgaccacgag tctgtaccaa agaagagttc atcaacaagg ttcgtagcaa 8881 tgcagcatta ggggcaatat ttgaagagga aaaagagtgg aagactgcag tggaagctgt 8941 gaacgatcca aggttctggg ctctagtgga caaggaaaga gagcaccacc tgagaggaga 9001 gtgccagagt tgtgtgtaca acatgatggg aaaaagagaa aagaaacaag gggaatttgg 9061 aaaggccaag ggcagccgcg ccatctggta tatgtggcta ggggctagat ttctagagtt 9121 cgaagccctt ggattcttga acgaggatca ctggatgggg agagagaact caggaggtgg 9181 tgttgaaggg ctgggattac aaagactcgg atatgtccta gaagagatga gtcgcatacc 9241 aggaggaagg atgtatgcag atgacactgc tggctgggac acccgcatca gcaggtttga 9301 tctggagaat gaagctctaa tcaccaacca aatggagaaa gggcacaggg ccttggcatt 9361 ggccataatc aagtacacat accaaaacaa agtggtaaag gtccttagac cagctgaaaa 9421 agggaaaaca gttatggaca ttatttcgag acaagaccaa agggggagcg gacaagttgt 9481 cacttacgct cttaacacat ttaccaacct agtggtgcaa ctcattcgga atatggaggc 9541 tgaggaagtt ctagagatgc aagacttgtg gctgctgcgg aggtcagaga aagtgaccaa 9601 ctggttgcag agcaacggat gggataggct caaacgaatg gcagtcagtg gagatgattg 9661 cgttgtgaag ccaattgatg ataggtttgc acatgccctc aggttcttga atgatatggg 9721 aaaagttagg aaggacacac aagagtggaa accctcaact ggatgggaca actgggaaga 9781 agttccgttt tgctcccacc acttcaacaa gctccatctc aaggacggga ggtccattgt 9841 ggttccctgc cgccaccaag atgaactgat tggccgggcc cgcgtctctc caggggcggg 9901 atggagcatc cgggagactg cttgcctagc aaaatcatat gcgcaaatgt ggcagctcct 9961 ttatttccac agaagggacc tccgactgat ggccaatgcc atttgttcat ctgtgccagt 10021 tgactgggtt ccaactggga gaactacctg gtcaatccat ggaaagggag aatggatgac 10081 cactgaagac atgcttgtgg tgtggaacag agtgtggatt gaggagaacg accacatgga 10141 agacaagacc ccagttacga aatggacaga cattccctat ttgggaaaaa gggaagactt 10201 gtggtgtgga tctctcatag ggcacagacc gcgcaccacc tgggctgaga acattaaaaa 10261 tacagtcaac atggtgcgca ggatcatagg tgatgaagaa aagtacatgg actacctatc 10321 cacccaagtt cgctacttgg gtgaagaagg gtctacacct ggagtgctgt gagcaccaat 10381 cttaatgttg tcaggcctgc tagtcagcca cagcttgggg aaagctgtgc agcctgtgac 10441 ccctccagga gaagctgggt aaccaagcct atagtcaggc cgagaacgcc atggcacgga 10501 agaagccatg ctgcctgtga gcccctcaga ggacactgag tcaaaaaacc ccacgcgctt 10561 ggaggcgcag gatgggaaaa gaaggtggcg accttcccca cccttcaatc tggggcctga 10621 actggagatc agctgtggat ctccagaaga gggactagtg gttagaggag accccccgga 10681 aaacgcaaaa cagcatattg acgctgggaa agaccagaga ctccatgagt ttccaccacg 10741 ctggccgcca ggcacagatc gccgaatagc ggcggccggt gtggggaaat cca
niman Posted February 18, 2016 Author Report Posted February 18, 2016 Sequence map updatedhttps://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=zv94AJqgUct4.kI8kcFySb4J0&hl=en
niman Posted February 18, 2016 Author Report Posted February 18, 2016 Zika virus: Study supports link to microcephalyBy Smitha MundasadHealth reporter18 February 2016 From the sectionHealthImage copyrightAPImage captionA 10-year-old Brazilian boy holds his two-month-old brother, who was born with microcephalyScientists say a study involving pregnant women in Brazil "strengthens" the theory that Zika is linked to microcephaly birth defects in babies.The research confirmed the presence of Zika virus in the amniotic fluid of two women who had had Zika-like symptoms during their pregnancies.Brazilian experts say this suggests the virus can infect the foetus.But WHO experts caution the link is not proven and expect to release more information in the next few weeks.Urgent investigationsBrazil has seen a rise in microcephaly - babies born with abnormally small heads and, in some cases, problems with brain development - in the last year, at the same time as a rise in the number of people infected with Zika virus.This has led to a number of studies investigating whether the virus is behind the rise.The research, published in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases, involved two women who had fever, rash and muscle aches during their pregnancies.After ultrasound scans revealed their developing foetuses had microcephaly, scientists ran further amniocentesis checks.This involved taking a small sample of the amniotic fluid that surrounds the foetus in the womb.Genetic analysis of this fluid confirmed the presence of Zika virus - discounting similar viruses that may have been responsible.Lead scientist, Dr Ana de Filippis, from the Oswaldo Cruz Institute in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, said: "This study reports details of the Zika virus being identified directly in the amniotic fluid of a woman during her pregnancy, suggesting the virus could cross the placental barrier and potentially infect the foetus."She added: "This study cannot determine whether the Zika virus identified in these two cases was the cause of microcephaly in the babies."Until we understand the biological mechanism linking Zika to microcephaly we cannot be certain that one causes the other, and further research is urgently needed."Prof Jimmy Whitworth, at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine added that while the research cannot prove the link: "This study does strengthen the body of evidence that Zika virus is the cause of foetal microcephaly in Brazil."Separately the paper suggests that the virus looks genetically very similar to the Zika virus circulating in French Polynesia in 2013.But scientists say despite growing research, a lot remains unknown and a number of questions still need urgent answers - including how big the risk of microcephaly is if a woman has Zika virus infection in pregnancy and whether the timing of the infection makes a difference.Brazil, the country hardest-hit by Zika, has about 508 confirmed cases of microcephaly and is investigating about 3,935 suspected cases.The ministry said last week that 41 of the confirmed cases of microcephaly had shown links to Zika infection.Microcephaly can be caused by a range of factors, including genetic conditions, infections and drugs.Experts say women who are pregnant are most at risk from mosquito-borne Zika and should try to protect themselves from mosquito bites.http://www.bbc.com/news/health-35597465
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