Based on our findings demonstrating ZIKV-induced downregulation of the ALDH5A1 gene, we postulate that a reduction in ALDH5A1 enzyme activity would increase endogenous GHB and GABA levels, and therefore contribute to neurological manifestations of ZIKV infection such as microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults52. This evidence concerns the gene ALDH5A1 and microcephaly.