title: ZIKV - CDB: A Collaborative Database to Guide Research Linking SncRNAs and ZIKA Virus Disease Symptoms.
abstract: In early 2015, a ZIKA Virus (ZIKV) infection outbreak was recognized in northeast Brazil, where concerns over its possible links with infant microcephaly have been discussed. Providing a causal link between ZIKV infection and birth defects is still a challenge. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs) that regulate post-transcriptional gene expression by translational repression, and play important roles in viral pathogenesis and brain development. The potential for flavivirus-mediated miRNA signalling dysfunction in brain-tissue development provides a compelling hypothesis to test the perceived link between ZIKV and microcephaly.
  
  
  
  Here, we applied in silico analyses to provide novel insights to understand how Congenital ZIKA Syndrome symptoms may be related to an imbalance in miRNAs function. Moreover, following World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, we have assembled a database to help target investigations of the possible relationship between ZIKV symptoms and miRNA-mediated human gene expression.
  
  
  
  We have computationally predicted both miRNAs encoded by ZIKV able to target genes in the human genome and cellular (human) miRNAs capable of interacting with ZIKV genomes. Our results represent a step forward in the ZIKV studies, providing new insights to support research in this field and identify potential targets for therapy.
authors.affiliation: Biosystems Informatics and Genomics Group, René Rachou Research Center (CPqRR-FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Victor Satler
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Pylro
authors.affiliation: Biosystems Informatics and Genomics Group, René Rachou Research Center (CPqRR-FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francislon Silva
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Biosystems Informatics and Genomics Group, René Rachou Research Center (CPqRR-FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniel Kumazawa
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Morais
authors.affiliation: Biosystems Informatics and Genomics Group, René Rachou Research Center (CPqRR-FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cuadros-Orellana
authors.affiliation: Biosystems Informatics and Genomics Group, René Rachou Research Center (CPqRR-FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabiano Sviatopolk-Mirsky
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Pais
authors.affiliation: Biosystems Informatics and Genomics Group, René Rachou Research Center (CPqRR-FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Julliane Dutra
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.affiliation: Biosystems Informatics and Genomics Group, René Rachou Research Center (CPqRR-FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana Assis
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Geraldo
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Evolution, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.|Argonne National Laboratory, Institute for Genomic and Systems Biology, Argonne, Illinois, United States of America.|Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.affiliation: Biosystems Informatics and Genomics Group, René Rachou Research Center (CPqRR-FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Angela Cristina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Volpini
authors.affiliation: Biosystems Informatics and Genomics Group, René Rachou Research Center (CPqRR-FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriel Rocha
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Fernandes
mesh_terms: D016208:Databases, Factual; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D000071244:Zika Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D000071243:Zika Virus Infection / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D012367:RNA, Viral