Fundamental neurochemistry review: Glutamatergic dysfunction as a central mechanism underlying flavivirus-induced neurological damage.

The Flaviviridae family comprises positive-sense single-strand RNA viruses mainly transmitted by arthropods. Many of these pathogens are especially deleterious to the nervous system, and a myriad of neurological symptoms have been associated with infections by Zika virus (ZIKV), West Nile virus (WNV), and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in humans. Studies suggest that viral replication in neural cells and the massive release of pro-inflammatory mediators lead to morphological alterations of synaptic spine structure and changes in the balance of excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmitters and receptors.