Zika Virus

This article discussed the effect of the Asian Zika virus on the infected individuals specifically the negative effects it induces in the blood of pregnant women. Monocytes are a specific type of white blood cells found in blood. They are considered immunomodulators, which simply means that they play an essential role in the immune defense system. These monocytes, specifically the CD14+ Monocytes seem to be the top target of African- or Asian- lineage Zika viruses. The accessibility of the targeted monocytes becomes heightened in the blood of infected and pregnant individuals, leaving them more susceptible to the virus and its effects. Most specifically Asian-lineage Zika resulted in an immunosuppression of monocytes and a shutdown of the interferon signaling pathway. Both of these effects can lead to serious birth complications due to the resulting expression of host genes that are normally left unexpressed. The overall goal of the article is to illustrate the similar and different effects of the different lineages of the Zika virus, specifically in the pregnant population.