LB1562 Ebola virus infection of skin as a mechanism of transmission

The 2014-2016 Ebola virus (EBOV) outbreak in West Africa provided evidence for skin being a route of human to human viral transmission. Yet, the skin cell populations that are susceptible to EBOV infection and support EBOV replication are unknown. To investigate what skin cell types support EBOV, we utilized a human organ culture model where skin explants are cultured on nylon inserts at the air-liquid interface and a BSL2 replication competent recombinant virus, EBOV GP-rVSV. Exposure to 102, 104 or 106 pfu resulted in a dose- and time-dependent increase in GFP fluorescence in intact skin and an associated increase in viral titer and viral genome using qRT-PCR, thus confirming viral replication.
Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology - Category: Dermatology Authors: Tags: Innate Immunity, Microbiology, Inflammation Source Type: research