A Comprehensive Systems Biology Approach to Studying Zika Virus

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161355
• Publication Date: 2016-09-01T14:26:01Z
• Authors: Meghan May; Ryan F. Relich
• Keywords: Glycome; Zika Virus; Lineage (genetic)

Zika virus (ZIKV) is responsible for an ongoing and intensifying epidemic in the Western Hemisphere. We examined complete predicted proteomes, glycomes, selectomes of 33 ZIKV strains representing temporally diverse members African lineage, Asian current outbreak Americas. Derivation selectome 'omics' approach to identify distinct evolutionary pressures acting on different features organism. Employment M8 model did not show evidence global diversifying selection polyprotein; however, a mixed effect evolution showed strong (P<0.05) episodic specific sites. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were predictably frequent across relative derived consensus sequence. None 9 published detection procedures utilize targets that share 100% identity examined, indicating escape from molecular predictable. The O-linked glycome marked diversity strains; N-linked was highly stable. All American include glycosylation E protein ASN154, modification proposed mediate neurotropism, whereas strains. SNP diversity, selection, differential glycosylation, particularly may have major biological implications disease. Taken together, systems biology perspective indicates: a.) recently emergent Asian/American N-glycotype mediating new emerging neuropathogenic potential ZIKV; b.) further divergence at sites predictable as endemnicity established