This literature review will discuss Zika virus and the salient research on antibody dependent enhancement and how this mechanism may lead to congenital defects. Specific objectives include: the mechanism of antibody dependent enhancement, Zika and dengue virus pathogenesis, placenta pathophysiology, and how changes in viral virulence may play a role the pathogenesis of neurologic congenital defects seen in infants infected with Zika virus in utero.
While some cohort studies have examined the relationship between prior dengue immunity, Zika virus infection in pregnancy, and effects on neonatal outcomes further prospective studies using large cohorts and more detailed lab testing and imaging is essential to better understand this relationship. A proposed study enrolling a large cohort of women in the 6th- 8th week of pregnancy from Northeastern Brazil will seek to further describe what additional risk dengue immunity may pose in the context of Zika virus. This risk is essential to understand, as Zika and Dengue viruses co-circulate in many regions of the world. Furthermore, participants in the proposed study will undergo bi-weekly screening for Zika virus through laboratory and ultrasound testing until their delivery. Infants will then have full neurologic testing and MRI scanning for the following year after birth to characterize any congenital defects. Neonates born to mothers with prior dengue immunity who contract Zika virus during pregnancy will be compared to neonates not exposed to Zika virus in utero. This experiment will illuminate the associated risk and evidence of ADE occurring with prior dengue immunity and Zika virus infection during pregnancy. Results from this study will not only help define risks of congenital defects with Zika virus, it will inform vaccine research and elucidate challenges in the administration of the current tetravalent dengue vaccine.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bu.edu/oai:open.bu.edu:2144/32971 |
| Date | 24 October 2018 |
| Creators | Eichen, Eva |
| Contributors | Oberhaus, Stephanie, Warner, Mary L. |
| Source Sets | Boston University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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