Zika virus (ZIKV) is a previously-neglected,
but newly-emerging zoonotic pathogen that has swept most
of the western hemisphere. The unexpected attention
aroused worldwide lies in the explosive spread of ZIKV to
Brazil and USA in 2015 and its rare correlation to micro-
cephaly in newborns, raising a serious challenge to public
health. We show the origin and fast dissemination of these
epidemic ZIKA isolates. Phylogenetic analyses revealed
that all the newly-emerging ZIKV isolates belong to the
Asian-American Lineage. Structural analyses of the ZIKV
E surface protein suggested that it might adopt a similar
entry mechanism to that of other Flavi-viruses like Dengue
Virus and West Nile Virus.

EB00000004470K

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• Origin, dissemination and entry of the pandemic Zika viruses