O papel da proteína NS1 na patogenicidade do vírus da Zika: uma revisão bibliográfica

Abstract

The Zika Virus (ZIKV), an arbovirus of the Flavivirus genus and the Flaviviridae family, is primarily transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The outbreaks that occurred in Brazil in 2015 characterized it as an emerging disease with significant public health impact, especially due to its neurological complications, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome and microcephaly in newborns. With rapid dissemination, the virus was circulating in 38 countries by 2016, affecting millions of people, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. ZIKV has a single-stranded RNA genome and encodes three structural proteins and seven non-structural proteins. Among these, the NS1 protein plays a central role in viral pathogenesis, being involved in immune system evasion, increased vascular permeability, and modulation of the inflammatory response. Moreover, its presence in the early stages of infection makes NS1 an important marker for laboratory diagnosis. This literature review aims to analyze the the importance of the protein NS1 and its diagnostic implications. The research was conducted using scientific databases such as PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar, using the descriptors “Zika vírus”, “NS1 protein”, “diagnosis”, “serological tests”, “molecular methods” e “challenges” prioritizing recent articles in Portuguese and English. A total of 537 articles were found, of which only 13 were used in the development of this study. Studies reveal advancements in immunological tests such as ELISA and immunochromatography, but also highlight limitations, such as cross-reactivity among flaviviruses, which may compromise result accuracy. It is concluded that NS1 represents a promising target for improving diagnostic methods and developing new therapeutic strategies. Future investigations into its biological functions are essential for enhancing the understanding of ZIKV infection and its clinical management.