Genetic Profiling and Comorbidities of Zika Infection

Summary We found that transcriptome and genome profiles of Zika virus–infected human tissues show important similarities and differences to tissues infected by other flaviviruses such as dengue. We also found 2 pathways in Zika-infected tissues known to regulate inflammation. Abstract Background The difficulty in distinguishing infection by Zika virus (ZIKV) from other flaviviruses is a global health concern, particularly given the high risk of neurologic complications (including Guillain-Barré syndrome [GBS]) with ZIKV infection. Methods We developed quantitative frameworks to compare and explore infectome, diseasome, and comorbidity of ZIKV infections. We analyzed gene expression microarray and RNA-Seq data from ZIKV, West Nile fever (WNF), chikungunya, dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis virus, GBS, and control datasets. Using neighborhood-based benchmarking and multilayer network topology, we constructed relationship networks based on the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man database and our identified significant genes. Results ZIKV infections showed dysregulation in expression of 929 genes. Forty-seven genes were highly expressed in both ZIKV and dengue infections. However, ZIKV shared