Establishment of a mouse model for the complete mosquito-mediated transmission cycle of Zika virus

by Yi-Ping Kuo, Kuen-Nan Tsai, Yin-Chiu Luo, Pei-Jung Chung, Yu-Wen Su, Yu Teng, Ming-Sian Wu, Yu-Feng Lin, Chao-Yang Lai, Tsung-Hsien Chuang, Shih-Syong Dai, Fan-Chen Tseng, Cheng-Han Hsieh, De-Jiun Tsai, Wan-Ting Tsai, Chun-Hong Chen, Guann-Yi Yu Zika virus (ZIKV) is primarily transmitted byAedes mosquitoes in the subgenusStegomyia but can also be transmitted sexually and vertically in humans. STAT1 is an important downstream factor that mediates type I and II interferon signaling. In the current study, we showed that mice with STAT1 knockout (Stat1-/-) were highly susceptible to ZIKV infection. As low as 5 plaque-forming units of ZIKV could cause viremia and death inStat1-/- mice. ZIKV replication was initially detected in the spleen but subsequently spread to the brain with concomitant reduction of the virus in the spleen in the infected mice. Furthermore, ZIKV could be transmitted from mosquitoes toStat1-/- mice back to mosquitoes and then to na ïveStat1-/- mice. The 50% mosquito infectious dose of viremicStat1-/- mouse blood was close to 810 focus-forming units (ffu)/ml. Our further studies indicated that the activation of macrophages and conventional dendritic cells were likely critical for the resolution of ZIKV infection. The newly developed mouse and mosquito transmission models for ZIKV infection will be useful for the evaluation of antiviral drugs targeting the virus, vector, and host.
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Source Type: research