IntroductionUntil now, viruses have been considered nothing more than damaging, dangerous, and detrimental to our health. Since their discovery in 1892, they have been seen as a global health threat; not a cure or possible treatment for one of the leading causes of death in the world. However, recent scientific studies have shown that a specific strain, known as the Zika virus, could potentially treat aggressive brain cancers such as glioblastomas. Due to the teratogenic characteristics of the virus, it has been associated with an increase in the number of fetuses developing neuronal abnormalities, as it infects and ultimately kills cells vital for neurodevelopment. Correct re-engineering could lead the pathogen to selectively target the brain cancer stem cells that are responsible for the tumors; If successful, this breakthrough could completely reform the treatment of brain cancer and, therefore, transform oncology. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The following essay will address a number of factors that will help explain whether the virus could be used as a medicine. The first few paragraphs will explain what Zika is; it is the history, structure, pathogenesis and symptoms. Next, the essay will explore Zika as a teratogen, explaining how exactly it affects brain development and generates various abnormalities. Third, the trial will focus on brain cancer and how the Zika virus can attack aggressive tumors. Finally, the study will conclude by evaluating whether the use of the virus as a cure would be more effective than the treatments already available and whether its production as a medicine would be viable, that is, financially and ethically. If the Zika virus cannot be reengineered and used as a treatment for brain cancer, it is crucial to first understand what it actually is. The characteristics must be understood in order to decipher its pathogenesis and make an informed decision about whether exploiting the ability to infect the developing brain could revolutionize modern medicine. Zika's name is inherited from the location where it was first isolated; Ziika Forest in Uganda in 1947. Initial identification occurred in the sentinel rhesus macaque monkey and the virus was first diagnosed in a human in 1952. Although it was discovered 70 years ago ; the first outbreak of the disease occurred only ten years ago on the island of Yap. Since then, several countries have experienced outbreaks, sparking the scientific community's interest in this pathogen. Zika is classified among the flaviviruses and is therefore part of the ssRNA (+) taxonomic group. The structure of the virus is important for understanding its behavior. The genome is arranged in a linear fashion, meaning that unlike circular RNA, it has a beginning and an end. This is associated with monopartite genomic segmentation; Zika's genetic material consists of just a single strand of positive RNA, very similar to our own human mRNA. This functionality is essential for the replication of the virus in our body. The capsid has an icosahedral T=pseudo3 structure, like all other flaviviruses, which consists of 12 pentameric capsomers and 20 hexametric capsomers that surround the genetic material of the virus. It is then surrounded by an E-dimer and an M protein which constitute the envelope and attachment protein. The structure of the virus is crucial for scientists to understand howit exactly uses its components to cause harm to the human body. The infection is caused by certain arthropods, particularly mosquitoes, making Zika an arbovirus. Additionally, other methods of transmission include sexual contact and blood transfusions. The types involved in Zika infection and transmission come from the Aedes group; usually either Aedes Aegypti or Aedes Albopictus. When the Aedes mosquito lands on the skin, it pierces the outermost layer, the epidermis, using its proboscis. This then continues to pierce the skin and penetrate the second layer, the dermis, which contains its own blood supply and, therefore, the nutrients that female mosquitoes need to feed on to make and mature their eggs. As the tube passes through the epidermal and dermal layers, cells in these two layers become susceptible to Zika. As a result, the permissive cells are infected; for a cell to be permissive to Zika, it must have receptors that bind to the virus's attachment protein. This then leads to the fusion of the virus and the host cell, thereby initiating replication. Once the virus enters the host cell, it begins the replication process. This is how the virus causes damage to our body and leads to adverse effects on unborn babies. This is arguably the most important part of the process that scientists need to understand so they can observe what the virus would do if targeted at cancerous tumors. When the pathogen comes close enough to a virus-permissive human cell, its attachment proteins bind to receptors on the host cell. The binding that occurs between the host cell and the virus triggers a process called “clathrin-mediated endocytosis”; the virus is absorbed by inward budding of vesicles from the plasma membrane. These vesicles contain proteins with receptor sites specific to the absorbed molecules. Once endocytosis is achieved, the virus successfully infiltrates the cell and begins to replicate. To do this, it hijacks the cell's “protein production system” and therefore leads to the synthesis of its own viral proteins. This is successfully achieved because the virus's genome greatly mimics that of humans, meaning it can exploit the host's cellular apparatus. The cell continues to produce viral proteins until it dies, releasing the virus which then infects other cells. This process will continue as the infection spreads.2 However, regardless of the virus's ability to destroy our cells, the effects and symptoms in adults are usually minimal, most often inducing a mild fever and rash. skin and more rarely headaches and conjunctivitis. The danger of Zika is exposed when it is contracted by pregnant women, as this can consequently lead to the birth of babies with congenital Zika syndrome; a unique pattern of birth defects seen in fetuses and babies infected with Zika virus during pregnancy. The congenital Zika virus has five main characteristics, one of which is specifically linked to the brain and has prompted scientists to consider the possibility of reconfiguring the virus as a drug; microcephaly. In addition to this specific pathology, the virus has also been associated with brain complications in babies; These abnormalities include brain atrophy and asymmetry, abnormally formed or absent brain structures, hydrocephalus, and neuronal migration disorders. There is general consensus within the scientific community that Zika is responsible for thesediseases ; but how? How does this virus, practically harmless to adults, cause dangerous malformations in fetuses? Since the fetus is in the mother's womb, it cannot be bitten by an infected mosquito and therefore contracts the virus through transplacental infection: the virus is transmitted by the mother. to the unborn child via the placenta. This organ plays a central role in the healthy growth and development of the fetus because it provides it with essential nutrients. Once infected, the virus replicates within its cells, disrupting the placental barrier, meaning the pathogen can easily gain access to the fetal brain. Crossing the barrier is the first step towards fetal death; From this, the virus was shown to effectively target human cortical neural progenitor cells (NPCs); these resemble stem cells because they have the capacity to differentiate into other types of cells but are already more specific. The death of these infected cells leads to a reduction in the thickness of the NPC and neuronal layers and therefore an overall reduction in the size of the organoids; the inevitable increase in the number of destroyed cells accelerates the flattening of neuronal layers, ultimately causing microcephaly. It is this ability to effectively target and destroy neuronal cells that has prompted scientists to think about the possible benefits that the virus's disease process could have on brain cancer. Applying a singular and universal definition to brain cancer is difficult due to its varieties and complexity. However, in short, cancer can be defined as "a class of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell growth." Because it is caused by rapid and unmanageable cell division, cancer is essentially a disease of mitosis; but how can a vital process in the growth and development of all multicellular organisms malfunction to become one of the leading causes of death worldwide? The deadly process of cancer development begins when a cell changes from normal to cancerous; This occurs when the cell overrides or ignores the "checkpoints" that control the rate of mitosis. This is often due to a DNA mutation that occurs in one of the genes coding for control proteins that regulate growth, for example the p53 gene. This gene is also called the “guardian of the genome” and generally functions to control the cell cycle. It is therefore not particularly surprising that this gene is mutated in more than 50% of all human cancers. Once crucial cell cycle genes begin to behave abnormally, cancer cells begin to proliferate violently via uncontrolled mitosis, eventually forming a mass of cancer cells more commonly known as a tumor. However, not all tumors are cancers; benign tumors stay at their original site and do not spread to infect other parts of the body. These are generally only fatal if they put pressure on vital organs; When it comes to the brain, those located in critical areas can be life-threatening. The most concerning effects of tumors come from those that are malignant; these metastatic cells spread and infect other areas of the body through angiogenesis. The development of new blood vessels is triggered by chemical signals released by tumors, giving them access to their own supply of oxygen and “food,” as well as an escape route to various areas of the body. Metastases are particularly abundant throughout the brain; this is mainly due to the blood supply.?