VATIS UPDATE Article

Researchers from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, Canada, and a team of international, have used proteomics to examine proteins and peptides in saliva to accurately detect exposure to Zika virus.

By analysing the saliva of a pregnant mother infected with Zika and her twins – one born with microcephaly and one without – the researchers could pinpoint the specific protein signature for Zika that is present in saliva, creating potential to use this signature as an effective way to screen for exposure.

Dr. Walter Siqueira at the Western University, Canada, and team also discovered important clues about how the virus passes from mother to baby and its role in the development of microcephaly, a birth defect in which a baby’s head and brain is smaller than ­expected.

The research suggests a vertical transmission of the virus between mother and baby. The mutations in the amino acid ­sequence of the peptides that were different for each twin, suggesting that these mutations may play a role in whether a baby will develop microcephaly.

“We are very excited to publish findings that shed light on the transmission of Zika virus and present an innovative approach to assessing the presence of Zika virus. This research has the potential to positively impact global health. By detecting the virus, the infected individuals can have their symptoms and the virus progression properly monitored, as well as take action to stop the spread of the virus which causes these devastating craniofacial defects in newborns,” said Dr. William Giannobile.