Author(s) | |
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Abstract |
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a virus that was originally discovered in 1948 but has had little attention until the recent outbreaks in central and south American. In 2016, ZIKV infections found in Brazil were linked with congenital abnormalities such as microcephaly, calcium deposits and death. Therefore, scientists retroactively looked at the outbreaks in the past decade including the outbreak in French Polynesia in 2013. For 80% of adults the infection is asymptomatic, however there is an increased risk of the Guillain-Barre syndrome, an autoimmune inflammatory neurological disorder. There is also an increased risk of birth defects if the mother is infected during pregnancy. The is some evidence for dysregulation of the interferon pathway of the innate immune system in these infections. The gene products of this pathway contribute to RNA editing dysregulation mostly by ADAR. Due to these increased risks and the complexity of the molecular mechanisms underlying the infection, public education about Zika virus is both critical and complicated. Here we focus on the use of visual representation of data about Zika Virus in an attempt to increase overall awareness and understanding of ZIKV. The use of flow chart and scientific diagrams to convey complicated pathway analysis may aide in the public education of the risks associated with Zika infection. |
Format | |
Publication Date |
2018-04-05
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Contributor(s) |
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Olena Piontkivska |
Subject | |
Modified Abstract |
Zika virus is becoming a major health concern with the thousands of cases of microcephaly in newborns in Brazil being associated with infection during pregnancy. Furthermore, previous outbreaks such as in the French Polynesia in 2013, have also shown increases in newborn microcephaly and Guillain-Barre syndrome in adults linked with Zika virus infections.There is a need for visual aides in the form of scientific diagrams to educate the public on the complicated mechanisms of Zika Virus innate immune interactions. Here we create multiple visual aids to educate the public on the risks associated with Zika virus infection as well as the complicated mechanisms behind host viral interactions. |
Permalink | https://oaks.kent.edu/ugresearch/2018/2018all/4 |
Zika Virus Pathogenesis Explained with Visual Aids.
Waligura, C., Plonski, N.-M., & Piontkivska, H. (2018). Zika Virus Pathogenesis Explained with Visual Aids. (1–). https://oaks.kent.edu/node/5695
Waligura, Chanelle, Noel-Marie Plonski, and Helen Piontkivska. 2018. “Zika Virus Pathogenesis Explained With Visual Aids”. https://oaks.kent.edu/node/5695.
Waligura, Chanelle, et al. Zika Virus Pathogenesis Explained With Visual Aids. 5 Apr. 2018, https://oaks.kent.edu/node/5695.