Found the Zika pathway transmitted from mother to child

Scientists have gone one step further in finding the secret path Zika uses to transmit from mother to child.

According to a recent scientific report of researchers working at Emory Medical University (USA), there are two hypotheses corresponding to two ways for Zika virus to overcome the placental protection membrane and attacking the fetus, causing small head (brain atrophy) in the newborn.

First , Zika virus can get through the gap between the two cells created by injury or inflammation . Second , the virus has a unique ability, it can overcome protective film by hiding inside a host cell . The following hypothesis is drawn from pathological reports showing that the virus infects the placental cells.

Accordingly, the researchers conducted experiments to find the secret path that Zika went from mother to child. The test was conducted in a laboratory with 5 placenta donated from healthy mothers, giving birth by caesarean section.

Scientists have continued to cultivate these placental cells in the laboratory and infect Zika virus outbreaks in Puerto Rico (Brazil).

Diagram of Zika virus infection from mother to fetus.

Researchers have found that there is an increase in the activity of genes that produce antiviral molecules in the fetal immune system. These are macrophages that help destroy foreign cells and they are able to penetrate directly into the fetal blood vessels.

However, in some cases, macrophages cannot kill all viruses. Even, Zika can invade and replicate inside immune cells. Since then the virus cells can cross the placenta, then infect brain tissue in the developing fetus and eventually lead to brain atrophy.

Researchers also found that not every mother infected with Zika virus during pregnancy was transmitted to her baby. Transmission may not occur in mothers with immune cells sensitive to Zika virus than others.

It is known that Zika is the first virus discovered in monkeys in Uganda in 1947. The name of the virus is named after the Zika forest - the first time it was discovered.

In 2015 Zika virus appeared in Brazil, Latin American countries and Caribbean Islands. Large-scale outbreaks in Brazil have led scientists for the first time to find a link between Zika virus and birth defects called microcephaly.

The path of transmission of Zika virus including transmission through mosquito bites is the main way. In addition, two other transmission routes are sexual transmission and mother-to-fetal transmission.

In particular, the route of mother-to-fetal transmission becomes an unknown because scientists have not yet figured out the mechanism of how the infection process takes place.

However, Emory University researchers have contributed to solving this mystery when finding a potential way that Zika can use to transmit from mother to child.