Microorganisms (Apr 2022)

Phenotypic and Genetic Variability of Isolates of ZIKV-2016 in Brazil

  • Lidiane Menezes Souza Raphael,
  • Iasmim Silva de Mello,
  • Mariela Martínez Gómez,
  • Ieda Pereira Ribeiro,
  • Nathália Dias Furtado,
  • Noemia Santana Lima,
  • Alexandre Araújo Cunha Dos Santos,
  • Déberli Ruiz Fernandes,
  • Stephanie Oliveira Diaz da Cruz,
  • Luana Santana Damasceno,
  • Patrícia Brasil,
  • Myrna Cristina Bonaldo

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10050854
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 5
p. 854

Abstract

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The possibility of a Zika virus epidemic resurgence requires studies to understand its mechanisms of pathogenicity. Here, we describe the isolation of the Zika virus from breast milk (Rio-BM1) and compare its genetic and virological properties with two other isolates (Rio-U1 and Rio-S1) obtained during the same epidemic period. Complete genomic analysis of these three viral isolates showed that they carry characteristics of the American isolates and belong to the Asian genotype. Furthermore, we detected eight non-synonymous single nucleotide variants and multiple nucleotide polymorphisms that reflect phenotypic changes. The new isolate, Rio-BM1, showed the lowest replication rates in mammalian cells, induced lower cell death rates, was more susceptible to treatment with type I IFN, and was less pathogenic than Rio-U1 in a murine model. In conclusion, the present study shows evidence that the isolate Rio-BM1 is more attenuated than Rio-U1, probably due to the impact of genetic alterations in the modulation of virulence. The results obtained in our in vitro model were consistent with the pathogenicity observed in the animal model, indicating that this method can be used to assess the virulence level of other isolates or to predict the pathogenicity of reverse genetic constructs containing other polymorphisms.

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