Proteomics accurately detect exposure to Zika virus

Researchers 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 from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, Canada, and a team of international researchers 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,” said Dr William Giannobile. “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.”

Currently, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention uses blood tests to look for changes to RNA in order to diagnose Zika. The drawback to this method is that it is only able to detect the virus up to five to seven days after exposure.

The findings also open new doors for the development of antibody-based diagnostic tests for point-of-care detection. The researchers have received a provisional U.S. patent to develop a simple device that can be used to identify the Zika virus peptides in saliva outside of the laboratory. This study, has been published in the Journal of Dental Research (JDR), and offers a new, quicker and more cost-effect way to test for the virus.