A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has revealed how the Zika virus sustains infection within host cells. The research, conducted by a team of scientists led by Dr. Liu, sheds light on how Zika manipulates a fundamental physiological mechanism used by cells to clear away damaged or misfolded proteins and organelles.
Autophagy and Zika Infection
Autophagy is a crucial process that allows cells to maintain their health by removing damaged or dysfunctional components. However, in the case of Zika infection, autophagy is hijacked by the virus to suppress protective proteins, allowing it to control its destiny within host cells.
Key Findings
- The study focused on two specific cell surface proteins, AXL and TIM-1, which are important entry points for many viruses, including Zika.
- Researchers found that both AXL and TIM-1 were downregulated after infection with the Zika virus in three types of cells related to:
- Respiratory system
- Reproductive system
- Nervous system
Mechanism of Suppression
Contrary to expectations based on previous studies using other viruses like Ebola or HIV-1, which utilize protein degradation processes such as ubiquitination or proteasome degradation for protein downregulation, experiments showed that this suppression occurred through autophagy rather than these common protein degradation processes.
This manipulation allows the virus to evade an antiviral response from host cells while facilitating its own replication. The researchers identified three Zika proteins responsible for prompting host-cell autophagy:
- NS2A (nonstructural protein 2A)
- NS4B (nonstructural protein 4B)
- E (envelope)
These proteins, normally involved in viral entry or replication, have taken on a new function—suppressing protective responses from host cells.
Dr. Liu stated, "Further research is needed before we can know for sure whether this mechanism is relevant [to other viruses] such as Ebola."
Implications of the Findings
The findings suggest that understanding how viruses manipulate cellular processes like autophagy could lead to new insights into their behavior and potentially inform strategies for developing treatments against them.
Related Research
Previous research has shown a link between Zika infection during pregnancy and congenital problems, including microcephaly (smaller than normal head size), following a large epidemic in Brazil in 2015.
Dr. Liu concluded, "Our study provides evidence that [the] mechanisms used by some viruses may be different from what we previously thought."
I’m Mark W. Lamplugh Jr., a visionary Chief Executive Officer, Board Member, and best-selling Author with over 25 years of experience driving significant revenue growth and optimizing ROI across the healthcare, wellness, and media industries. Throughout my career, I’ve consistently transformed underperforming operations into thriving ventures by building top-tier marketing organizations, implementing data-driven strategies, and leading transformational change. My empathetic, collaborative, and adaptable leadership style has allowed me to cultivate inclusive cultures of innovation, develop and retain top talent, and forge strong partnerships that fuel organizational success.
Adept in executive leadership, strategic business planning, and brand and marketing strategy, I have a proven track record of boosting annual revenues—achieving up to $1.3B in oncology over three years and generating $360M in mental health initiatives. My approach combines strategic vision with hands-on execution, as evidenced by my success in launching innovative facilities, expanding services for addiction and mental health care, and enhancing organizational brand visibility. As author of “The AI Marketing Playbook,” I contribute thought leadership on the integration of artificial intelligence in marketing, a role that showcases my commitment to staying at the forefront of industry innovation.
I also bring my insights and expertise to a broad audience as the host of cable tv & global streaming of “Street Level Marketing Show,” while my writing has been featured in major publications such as Entrepreneur, Business.com, The Startup, and Kivo Daily. Whether I’m implementing targeted digital marketing campaigns that engage over a million individuals monthly or overseeing multi-million dollar budgets to maximize return on investment, I approach every challenge with a combination of strategic planning, creative problem-solving, and unwavering dedication. Above all, I am passionate about expanding access to high-quality addiction and mental health care through innovative solutions that drive both patient outcomes and organizational growth.
Mark serves on the board of One World for Life, National Fire Heritage Center, and the Institute for Responder Wellness.
Mark (https://marklamplugh.com) is one of the top marketing executives in the United States and has revolutionized how companies reach potential clients thru influence, SEO, social, PR, and traditional marketing. His expertise in Marketing, Social Media, Digital Marketing, and Public Relations has generated millions of dollars in revenue for several national companies. Mark documents many of his techniques in his book “Beginners Guide to Social & Digital Media.” and “Marketing Playbook for Social Media,” which was named the top 100 social media marketing books of all time by Book Authority. He’s also a professional advocate for the behavioral and mental health of firefighters and other first responders. Marks articles have been published in Better Marketing, Startup Magazine, Social Media Today, Kivo Daily, Biz Catalyst 360, Fire Engineering, Firehouse Magazine, and several others.
One of his companies, niches, are marketing products and services to the public safety industry and their employees, specifically mental & behavioral health services. He can be reached for comment at ceo@influencemediasolutions.com
23,000 #1 Connections, 40,000,000 US B2B Contacts and 300,000,000 B2b/B2C email contacts as well as 1,000,000+ monthly social media reach. https://marklamplugh.com
