Open AccessAssociations of DNA Methylation Mortality Risk Markers with Congenital Microcephaly from Zika Virus: A Study of Brazilian Children Less than 4 Years of Age
Author(s) -
Jamaji C. NwanajiEnwerem,
Lars van der Laan,
Elorm Avakame,
Kristan A. Scott,
Heather H. Burris,
Andrés Cárdenas
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of tropical pediatrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.464
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1465-3664
pISSN - 0142-6338
DOI - 10.1093/tropej/fmab020
Subject(s) - microcephaly , medicine , zika virus , confidence interval , dna methylation , pediatrics , etiology , epigenetics , immunology , biology , virus , genetics , gene expression , gene
Zika virus (ZIKV)-associated congenital microcephaly is an important contributor to pediatric death, and more robust pediatric mortality risk metrics are needed to help guide life plans and clinical decision making for these patients. Although common etiologies of pediatric and adult mortality differ, early life health can impact adult outcomes-potentially through DNA methylation. Hence, in this pilot study, we take an early step in identifying pediatric mortality risk metrics by examining associations of ZIKV infection and associated congenital microcephaly with existing adult DNA methylation-based mortality biomarkers: GrimAge and Zhang's mortality score (ZMS).