Inihayag ng US researchers nitong Huwebes ang unang three-dimensional map ng Zika, isang pag-abante na inaasahan ng ilan na magpapabilis sa mga pagsisikap na magdebelop ng bakuna laban sa mosquito-borne virus na iniuugnay sa birth defects.

Inilarawan ng tuklas sa journal na Science ang virus na maraming pagkakahawig sa pamilya ng mga flavivirus — kabilang na ang dengue, West Nile, yellow fever, at Japanese encephalitis — ngunit nagtataglay ng ilang natatanging pagkakaiba.

Ang nakausling bahagi sa balat ng virus, kilala bilang glycosylation site, ay nagtataglay ng ilang natatanging katangian na naghihiwalay sa Zika sa iba pang katulad nito.

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“The virus is like a menacing stranger luring an unsuspecting victim with the offer of sweet candy,” saad sa pahayag mula sa Purdue University, na roon isinagawa ang pananaliksik.

“The human cell gladly reaches out for the treat and then is caught by the virus, which, once attached, may initiate infection of that cell.”

Lahat ng kilalang flavivirus structures ay nagkakaiba sa amino acids na bumabalot sa glycosylation site sa balat ng virus, at ang partikular na mga katangian ng Zika ang maaaring nagpapahintulot dito na kumapit sa ilang molecules at ma- infect ang ilang human cells.

“If this site functions as it does in dengue and is involved in attachment to human cells, it could be a good spot to target an antiviral compound,” pahayag ni Michael Rossmann, professor of biological sciences sa Purdue.

“If this is the case, perhaps an inhibitor could be designed to block this function and keep the virus from attaching to and infecting human cells.”

Invading nervous system?

Hindi gaya ng mga kaparehong flavivirus, lumalabas na nahahawaan ng Zika ang utak ng developing fetus, at ipinahihiwatig ng scientific evidence ang malakas na pagkakaugnay ng Zika infection at birth defect na microcephaly, na ang mga sanggol ay isinilang na mas maliit ang ulo.

“Most viruses don’t invade the nervous system or the developing fetus due to blood-brain and placental barriers, but the association with improper brain development in fetuses suggest Zika does,” sabi ni Purdue University researcher Devika Sirohi.

“It is not clear how Zika gains access to these cells and infects them, but these areas of structural difference may be involved,” dagdag niya.

“These unique areas may be crucial and warrant further investigation.”

Ang model ay ibinatay sa strain ng Zika virus na hiwalay sa pasyenteng nahawaan sa panahon ng French Polynesia epidemic noong 2013-2014.

Sinabi ng mga siyentista ng US government na posibleng aabutin pa ng maraming taon para makagawa ng bakuna laban sa Zika virus, na sa kasalukuyan ay walang lunas.

“The structure of the virus provides a map that shows potential regions of the virus that could be targeted by a therapeutic treatment, used to create an effective vaccine or to improve our ability to diagnose and distinguish Zika infection from that of other related viruses,” sinabi ng lead researcher na si Richard Kuhn, director ng Purdue Institute for Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Diseases.

“Determining the structure greatly advances our understanding of Zika -- a virus about which little is known. It illuminates the most promising areas for further testing and research to combat infection.” (Agence France-Presse)