African strains of Zika virus resist ISG-mediated restriction.

ABSTRACT: Zika virus (ZIKV) is a neurotropic Orthoflavivirus transmitted by mosquito vectors, which has evolved into two lineages, namely African and Asian. ZIKV from the Asian lineage has been responsible for epidemics in the Pacific and the Americas, the largest of which occurred in Brazil in 2015 and was associated with severe neurological disorders, including cases of microcephaly and other congenital fetal malformations. Although never implicated in human epidemics, African strains exhibit faster replication, higher virus production, and greater virulence in animal models compared to their Asian counterparts. A key feature that may account for the better fitness of African ZIKV strains compared to Asian ones is the fact that they are more resistant to interferon (IFN). IFN response is a major h

SUBMITTER: Bribes I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12270304 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature