[01] Elizabeth A. Okong’o Odera, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE), North Carolina Central University, North Carolina, USA. [02] Joab Otieno Odera, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE), North Carolina Central University, North Carolina, USA. [03] Md. Zakir Hossain, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE), North Carolina Central University, North Carolina, USA.

The Zika virus (ZIKAV) is an emerging arbovirus of the Flaviviridae family with two main lineages; the African and the Asian lineages. It is an enveloped single stranded positive sense RNA virus of approximately 11kb. Scientists recently linked ZIKAV with a rare birth defect microcephaly characterized by small head and brain development and abnormalities. The brain damage in Zika babies is worse than the researchers initially anticipated. Researchers believe that ZIKAV prevents parts of the brain not yet formed from proper development, which might in the long run, be associated with severe abnormalities. No one knows how the babies survive, how well their brain develops and functions remains a mystery. There is no effective vaccine or proven specific therapeutic treatment for ZIKAV infection to date. The development of suitable therapeutic molecules and elucidating anti-viral agents against ZIKAV viral infection is therefore imperative, and a recent near-atomic resolution of a mature ZIKAV offers an opportunity to accelerate new research in this area. Thus, this review seeks to consolidate information from various scientific work carried out worldwide, and provide a clear and comprehensive outline of research and current issues needing further ZIKAV investigation.

Zika Virus, Microcephaly, Symptoms, Testing, Treatments and Future Perspectives

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