Sartorisu-Sowmya eBook - 26

DECIPHERING THE IMMUNE RESPONSE TO VIRAL INFECTION

Zika Biomarkers Could Lead to Prenatal Diagnostic

I

nvestigators at USC believe that after immunoprofiling a
number of symptomatic Zika virus positive (ZIKV+) pregnant
patients and extensive multiplexing analysis of their cytokine
levels that they have identified a panel of biomarkers that
are "specifically associated with symptomatic ZIKV+ infection
during pregnancy." This is an important discovery that could
lead to screening tests and a better understanding about
how the infection leads to fetal abnormalities. Findings from
the new study were published today in the Journal of Clinical
Investigation Insight through an article titled "Biomarkers and
immunoprofiles associated with fetal abnormalities of ZIKVpositive pregnancies."
"The highest risk of birth defects is from Zika virus infection
during the first and second trimester. A prenatal test has the
potential to relieve the concerns of many expectant mothers,"
explained lead study investigator Suan-Sin Foo, Ph.D., a
research associate in the department of molecular microbiology
and immunology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. "We
still have a lot to learn about how the Zika virus affects the
immune responses in the mother, and how infection can
negatively impact her baby."

26 | GENengnews.com

ADDITIONAL CONTENT
Application Note: An Optimized, Multiplexed Assay
for Screening Ex Vivo Conditions which Increase
Memory T Cell Frequency

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