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BMC Medicine
Published in: BMC Medicine 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Commentary

Zika virus and neurologic autoimmunity: the putative role of gangliosides

Authors: Juan-Manuel Anaya, Carolina Ramirez-Santana, Ignacio Salgado-Castaneda, Christopher Chang, Aftab Ansari, M. Eric Gershwin

Published in: BMC Medicine | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

An increasing number of severe neurological complications associated with Zika virus (ZIKV), chiefly Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and primary microcephaly, have led the World Health Organization to declare a global health emergency. Molecular mimicry between glycolipids and surface molecules of infectious agents explain most of the cases of GBS preceded by infection, while a direct toxicity of ZIKV on neural cells has been raised as the main mechanism by which ZIKV induces microcephaly. Gangliosides are crucial in brain development, and their expression correlates with neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, synaptic transmission, and cell proliferation. Targeting the autoimmune response to gangliosides may represent an underexploited opportunity to examine the increased incidence of neurological complications related to ZIKV infection.
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Metadata
Title
Zika virus and neurologic autoimmunity: the putative role of gangliosides
Authors
Juan-Manuel Anaya
Carolina Ramirez-Santana
Ignacio Salgado-Castaneda
Christopher Chang
Aftab Ansari
M. Eric Gershwin
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Medicine / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1741-7015
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-016-0601-y

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